[0:03] Commissioner.

[0:09] I will call this May 18th, the New Hanover County Commissioner meeting to order, and we will start with our invocation by a meme of dual-wrote.

[0:18] from Monterey of the Tahit Islamic Center of Woman.

[0:24] With God's name, the first of all,

[0:26] thank you back to the rest of Redeemer,

[0:29] the May of the Wise, the Most High,

[0:31] possessive greatness, give you all that's good,

[0:35] except that what only is good, we stand in home

[0:38] and we see sure to buy and promise upon this new

[0:40] Hanover County Board of Commissioners' meeting,

[0:43] thus our County Commissioners, the Parliament officials,

[0:46] and staff with a pursuit of excellence in the management

[0:48] of their responsibilities, but somehow we're counting to remain vibrant in its effectiveness

[0:54] to tourism and commercial investments of high quality of life potential.

[0:59] And our commissioners with the best political and financial acumen as they navigate the

[1:03] waters of budget restraints, grant them wisdom and logic and less time to follow the

[1:08] logic towards logical conclusion in their decision-making process, plus to mend their efforts

[1:13] of transparency, openness, and mutual consultation in the conduct of current affairs.

[1:19] And when this meeting comes to an end, bless those present, with a safe return to the

[1:23] intended destination, I mean.

[1:28] Sir, please join me in facing the Black people's students, the Black, the Holy United States

[1:34] of America.

[1:36] And you're a republic for which stands one nation on a guy in the visible, with a liberty

[1:42] and justice for all.

[1:50] Thank you, sir.

[1:51] We appreciate that.

[1:51] and we have some letter to officials in the room from school board.

[1:54] Thank you all for being here today.

[1:56] We appreciate your participation in our meeting today.

[2:01] And we won't move right along with our consent agenda.

[2:03] Do we have any questions on that?

[2:06] Move the consent agenda.

[2:07] Second.

[2:08] All in favor?

[2:09] All right.

[2:11] Our next order of business will be presentation of surface award

[2:14] and an introduction of new employees.

[2:17] Good morning.

[2:18] Thank you, Madam Chair, to the board.

[2:19] It's always an honor to be with you, but it's a particular pleasure to be with you when

[2:24] we have the opportunity to recognize, personally, some of the best in the brightest.

[2:31] And that's folks that have worked with us that are reaching important milestones and those

[2:36] that have decided to join New Handover County.

[2:40] So thank you for affording us the opportunity.

[2:43] We do have five, I'm sorry, four retirees this morning to recognize.

[2:48] We don't like it when someone we're retires, but we understand they've earned that right and

[2:55] We are thankful for everything that they've done for us in their time

[3:00] So I'm gonna begin with our first retiree this morning Matt Winkle from Facility Management Matt if you would come forward and let me read

[3:08] a bit about your time. Thank you sir

[3:22] Matt Winkle is retiring after 11 years of dedicated service with facilities management

[3:28] Matt began his career as a sign technician before being promoted to Project Coordinator, where

[3:35] he played a central role in the county's construction and renovation projects. His most recent

[3:42] role is a trade technician. He brought the same creativity, energy, and craftsmanship

[3:49] that had defined his career from the very beginning. Among his many contributions, Matt's

[3:56] leadership on the Senior Resource Center Innovation stands out as a signature achievement.

[4:05] He took the lead on the project's interior design, including furniture selection, and brought

[4:12] both artistic vision and practical discipline to work.

[4:16] Isn't it nice when you can have artistic vision and a public facility, but also practically

[4:23] designed?

[4:23] He earned the trust of the departments he served by consistently demonstrating creativity, expertise, and reliability.

[4:34] Anyone who's worked alongside Matt will tell you that each year he hand makes holiday gifts or his co-workers.

[4:43] Those gifts become something people genuinely look forward to, to small, but meaningful reflection of

[4:51] Matt's generosity, his thoughtfulness, and the care he's brought to the people around him,

[4:59] and the people that he's served. 11 years of outstanding service, congratulations Matt.

[5:05] Thank you for everything that you've done. It's been an honor to know you and work with you. Congratulations.

[5:09] Now,

[5:56] again, thank you for all that you've done in congratulations on your retirement.

[6:01] We're going to recognize another individual this morning, Oundina Barronsky from Health

[6:07] Human Services, Social Services.

[6:11] Congratulations for 14 years, thank you so much for choosing to be on our standing next

[6:17] to me, read about your time.

[6:19] On Dina Baronski is retiring after 14 years of dedicated service within economic services in the department of social services.

[6:30] As a human services case worker, on Dina has been a steadfast presence in the lives of the individuals and families she served.

[6:40] Each day, she brought skill and professionalism to her work along with a genuine sense of care that extended far beyond the requirements of the role she served.

[6:55] She consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to helping others.

[6:59] Often bridging gaps, advocating for her customers, and finding ways to connect people, support

[7:08] they need, and ultimately that's why I work here.

[7:13] On Dean's work is the kind that rarely makes headlines, but it changes lives.

[7:20] When families walked through the doors, carrying the weight of difficult circumstances, on

[7:26] them with steadiness, dignity, and a sincere commitment to serving them well.

[7:35] For 14 years of service, reflect a career grounded in fashion, accountability,

[7:42] doing what is right.

[7:44] The example she said will continue to influence the department for years to come.

[7:52] Wow. What a career. 14 years. Thank you for your service, Lena. Congratulations. We can never replace you, we just hope that we can find people who have the same passion and commitment to greatness.

[8:06] boarded our community. Congratulations. Thank you for 14 years of service.

[8:42] And Dina again, congratulations. Thank you for your service.

[8:48] Commissioners, we're going to recognize another retiree this morning, Lieutenant Ron Beesley,

[8:54] 17 years of service. Please come forward, sir.

[9:05] I'd be. But to the details, but Lieutenant Beesley's pulled me out of order.

[9:09] on this in my time. Thank you for that, sir.

[9:16] Lieutenant Ron Beesley is retiring after 17 years of dedicated service with the Sheriff's Office.

[9:24] Ron's career reflects steady growth in our entrust. He began in the due-dissial services division as a bailiff,

[9:31] before serving in the uniform patrol division and in the detective division,

[9:37] where he advanced to the rank of sergeant. He later returned to judicial services

[9:43] attaining the ranks of first sergeant and ultimately lieutenant.

[9:49] His record of recognition speaks to the quality of his service.

[9:54] Ron was named deputy of the year in 2018, and honor that reflects performance as well as respect of his peers and his supervisors.

[10:06] He also holds both intermediate and advanced law enforcement certifications and is the recipient of the Maritorious Service Award.

[10:17] distinctions that reflect a career-marked by professionalism, excellence, and integrity,

[10:25] come to the for all of us to live up to.

[10:28] Lieutenant Beesley has served this community with professionalism, dedication, and

[10:33] a quiet consistency that made the people around him better at what they do.

[10:41] His legacy is going to endure through the officers he's mentored, the cases he's

[10:47] worked in the community so faithfully served the last 17 years, Lieutenant, congratulations

[10:54] on an outstanding career.

[10:55] Thank you for everything that you've done to make our community safe healthy.

[11:00] Here, as I said, we can never replace people of your professionalism, your activeness,

[11:05] hope that we can find people that are dedicated to public service call, happy graduations.

[11:11] Thank you, sir.

[11:37] Thank you, sir.

[11:38] Thank you very much.

[11:43] We have a fourth retiree to recognize this morning, Anthony Akatata from building safety.

[11:51] These sections division Anthony, if you would come forward.

[11:57] Let's come on up here and let me read about your 19 years of service.

[12:02] Good morning, good morning.

[12:08] Anthony Akatata is retired after 19 years of dedicated service with new hand over county building safety.

[12:15] inspections, where he served as a code compliance official throughout his entire career.

[12:24] The boom we've had, this gentleman, helped make sure that we build our structures well

[12:29] in a according to code. Anthony, thank you for being here during this most pressing time.

[12:35] Anthony brought deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to doing things the right way.

[12:41] That's twice we've heard that.

[12:43] Holding a level three electrical certification, he earned a reputation as a trusted and dependable member of his department.

[12:54] When a quick fix revealed a bigger problem, Anthony never walked away.

[12:59] He stayed late.

[13:01] He dug in, and he made sure the work was done right.

[13:05] His patients, the study approach, in genuine care for others, made him a stabilizing force within the inspection's department.

[13:17] We're nearly two decades, Anthony has built strong working relationships across the departments,

[13:23] and earned a reputation that speaks for itself.

[13:27] He shared his knowledge freely, supported colleagues generously, and sat a standar, a professionalism, and integrity.

[13:37] His legacy will continue through the work he has done, and the standard he has set, and the buildings he has expected.

[13:46] Please join us in celebrating and congratulating Anthony and Kato after 19 years of service to

[13:54] NewHano over County.

[13:55] We can't replace it.

[13:57] We're not even going to try, we just want to find people the same passion for public

[14:01] services.

[14:02] Thank you, sir.

[14:39] Congratulations.

[14:41] Thank you for keeping us safe healthy and secure.

[14:45] Madam Chair, there's four people that have provided tremendous service to our community.

[14:51] I believe they deserve another round of applause, Madam Chair.

[14:54] Thank you.

[15:04] So, I'll share with you what Commissioner Ryvan Barks said. He believes that New Hanover County ought to issue a moratorium on retirement. I happen to agree with that.

[15:15] So, no one else, hopefully, will retire. Those are the last four folks to leave the employee of New Hanover County.

[15:22] Yeah, because you can't replace and you don't try to replace people like that. You just hope that you can find people that are of equal capacity and commitment.

[15:32] We're going to recognize some folks that have achieved or met important milestones in service

[15:38] to New Hanover County when I call your name if you would please come forward.

[15:42] I'd like to be the first to shake your hand and thank you and then invite you to meet with

[15:47] the board.

[15:48] We're going to start with 10 years to skip right over the first five years of service.

[15:52] We're going to go right to 10 years this morning and recognize first from information

[15:57] Technology, Elizabeth King. Elizabeth, congratulations.

[16:03] Thank you for what you do.

[16:37] Also, with

[16:38] 10 years of service in building safety on the permitting side, Amy Lewis. Amy, congratulations

[16:45] and thank you for what you did.

[17:20] Missioners, with 10 years of service in fire services, David Stone.

[17:26] David, congratulations and thank you for what you did.

[17:59] Missioners, we're going to proceed forward to 20 years of service. Now that this is beginning to really find a rare air.

[18:07] Someone's been with an organization for 20 years and it's an honor this morning to recognize first from emergency management.

[18:15] Steven still. Steven, congratulations. Thank you for what you did.

[19:02] commissioners also with 20 years of service in fire services, Mike Whitman, Mike.

[19:08] Congratulations.

[19:10] Thank you for what you do.

[19:42] Missioners with 20 years of service in the Department of Social Services, Patricia

[19:47] Jensky.

[19:48] Patricia King, congratulations.

[19:51] Thank you for what you do.

[20:23] With 20 years of service, Parks and Gardens, Andy Johnson.

[20:28] Andy, congratulations.

[20:29] Thank you for all the Greens today.

[21:03] This is also with 20 years of service in parks and gardens, Stacey Tau.

[21:10] Stacey, congratulations.

[21:14] Thank you for everything that you did.

[21:47] We're going to move forward to 25 years of service.

[21:52] In the first person, we're going to recognize this morning from the Department of Social Services

[21:57] is Monica Jacobs.

[21:59] Monica.

[22:02] Congratulations and thank you for what you do.

[22:36] Missions, we also have another 25 year service recognition, but before we invite her up, I want to thank her for reminding

[22:44] me that we did not do service awards in January, February, and March as the calendar fell

[22:52] And that we overlooked the chance to recognize some folks that

[22:56] had made significant contributions to our organization in that time.

[23:02] And so with 25 years of service in the Health Department,

[23:06] bands of McNeil, Pazza, congratulations.

[23:11] Thank you for what you do.

[23:23] Pazza's out front and leading.

[23:26] She said it's okay to tell you this.

[23:28] She, this is the genuine truth, and again, people have opinions of COVID, but

[23:34] Panzerming Neal was the very first person in New Hand over County to have a COVID-19 vaccine,

[23:41] because she was on the front edge leading our vaccination plan.

[23:48] So, Panzer, thank you for everything you've done, but thank you for moving us through

[23:52] the most troubling period in our county's history.

[23:55] Thank you.

[23:56] Thank you.

[24:24] Also, with 25 years of service in the Health Department, Jeffrey Sugs, Jeffrey Congratulations.

[24:33] Thank you for what you did for this.

[25:06] We have one final recognition to make this one, and this is a service award.

[25:10] This is not a retirement, but this is when you begin to get into the space where you have a lot of options.

[25:17] And it's always thrilling when the option is to remain a part of this organization.

[25:22] and so with 30 years of service in the Health Department, Michelle Williams.

[25:29] Michelle, thank you so very much.

[25:37] So I'll tell you this as well.

[25:40] Michelle is the one who taught me how to beat.

[25:42] I shouldn't tell my personal business, but I will.

[25:44] How to beat the gal.

[25:46] How to know when it's coming on.

[25:48] And what it takes to knock it back.

[25:51] And so since she intervened, I have not had.

[25:53] had to take the medicine, but I haven't had to endure the pain of it.

[26:00] So, 30 years, thank you for what you do.

[26:02] Thank you for keeping me healthy.

[26:42] I'm Chair, just a small sampling of the best and the brightest.

[26:47] They deserve another round of applause.

[26:48] Thank you for everything that I'll do.

[26:56] So we're going to recognize folks that have joined the team since the board last met

[27:01] on a day meeting.

[27:02] And the point is, they too represent the best in the brightest.

[27:06] They haven't had their career yet, but I like to say because it's true.

[27:11] We have a deep applicant pull.

[27:12] And the hardest thing is to be hired into New Handover County.

[27:16] It's difficult to remain because we have the board has high expectations.

[27:20] But to be asked to join the team is a difficult lift.

[27:26] And you're here because through that process, you demonstrated first among

[27:30] equals that you were passionate about and committed to public service.

[27:34] If you don't lead with that, you can't be successful here.

[27:38] So I want to thank you for coming to work with New Handover County.

[27:42] We look forward to recognizing you in five years after incredible contribution.

[27:48] So when I call your name, if you would, please stand up.

[27:51] We want to give you a proper welcome to New Handover County.

[27:55] First, in the County Attorney's Office, Risk Management,

[27:57] Tony Cummings, Tonya. Welcome. Thank you for coming to work with us in the Department

[28:06] of Social Services, Cynthia Mundwia, Cynthia. Thank you for coming to work with us in

[28:14] the Health Department, Brandy Holmes. Brandy, thank you. Thank you for being here. Also

[28:22] go in the Health Department, Ashley Thompson.

[28:25] Ashley, congratulations.

[28:27] Thank you.

[28:28] Also in the Health Department, Shares West.

[28:33] Thank you for joining us.

[28:36] The Senior Resource Center, Wendell and Driscoll.

[28:40] Thank you for coming to work with us.

[28:44] And in the New Handover County Sheriff's Office, Jessica Bowers.

[28:50] Thank you all for joining new hand over county and Madam Chair.

[28:54] That concludes employee service works.

[28:56] Thank you.

[29:12] As you can see, we have some very talented and dedicated folks in the hand over county.

[29:17] And we thank you all so much.

[29:19] Appreciate you.

[29:20] Our next thing is consideration of an introduction of the bond order and

[29:24] Resolution to set a public hearing date for the general obligation bond for

[29:28] Capital needs of new hand over county schools.

[29:31] Thank you for being able to take care of our chair commissioners.

[29:39] At the April 20th, 2026 Board meeting, you all took the first several formal steps

[29:44] that are required to place a referendum on the November ballot.

[29:48] So, obtained authorization to issue 320,525,000 in general obligation bonds

[29:54] to be used for capital for the New Canterbury County Schools.

[29:58] At that meeting, you approve several files.

[30:00] Planning is a fact, and directed the publication of notice to apply for this step with the Local Government Commission.

[30:07] Subsequently, the notice was published with the star news on April 21st, and an application was filed with the LGC on May 4th.

[30:20] As a reminder, this slide shows the projects that are expected to be funded with the debt proceeds.

[30:24] There's the phase one of the Master Plan for New Handover High School, a new Trask Middle School,

[30:29] a replacement school for Mary C. Williams and River Lights, a rebuild of Pine Valley Elementary,

[30:36] an addition to Porter's neck elementary, and district wide equipment,

[30:40] replacement and improvements.

[30:50] The next steps in the process are to introduce the document that is the bond order

[30:54] and to set a date for the public hearing.

[30:58] When adopted, the bond order is a formal statement by the board that authorizes or affirms

[31:03] four items.

[31:04] First, it's formally authorizes the amount of the bond issuance.

[31:08] Second, it affirms that the county will let he taxes in an amount sufficient to ensure

[31:12] repayment of all interest and debt, principle and interest on the debt.

[31:17] Third, the bond order affirms that the sworn statement of debt has been followed with

[31:20] the clerk to the board and is available for anyone to come and inspect it.

[31:24] and forth in those at the Bond World will take effect if approved by the voters and

[31:28] referendum that's scheduled for November the 3rd, when he's 26.

[31:33] The full draft of the Bond orders included in the agenda materials with a title Bond

[31:38] order authorizing the issuance of 325,000 general obligation bonds of the county of New

[31:44] Hanover North Carolina.

[31:46] The intent for today is to provide to the public at draft of the Bond order and also

[31:50] would not a resolution that sets a public hearing date to give the citizens an opportunity

[31:55] to comment on that model. Specifically, the resolution proposes a public hearing date of June

[32:01] the 1st, 2026, and direct staff to notice a published notice that public hearing honor before

[32:08] in May 25, 2026.

[32:16] The next steps to the referendum process are shown here. Tomorrow is warm

[32:20] statement of that, and statement of disclosure will be filed with the court to the board,

[32:24] will be available for public inspection, the statement of disclosure will note that an expected

[32:30] increase the proper tax rate of 1.75 cents per $100 of assessed value associated with the

[32:36] data issuance. By next Monday we will publish a notice of the June 1st public hearing and then on

[32:42] June 1st, after the public hearing you will consider adopting the actual bond order and also passing

[32:48] a resolution setting the bond referendum. Those are the last statute to restups that you

[32:54] is the border charged with prior to the November 3rd, 2026 referendum.

[33:01] Next concludes my comments.

[33:05] Thank you, Eric.

[33:07] Through any comments or questions for Eric.

[33:11] I'll just just keep moving it along.

[33:13] What happened to your comments?

[33:14] Thank you.

[33:15] Thank you.

[33:16] I just want to say a few words about this as we move forward with the process.

[33:20] Commissioners, that one I had the opportunity to serve on the finance committee

[33:23] alongside county staff, school district staff, school board members and community members

[33:28] through many meetings to help shake the parameters of the spot, so I want to thank everybody

[33:32] for their work on this, but you can keep finance votes and all of you.

[33:36] After considerable deliberation, these projects arose at the top of the most critical needs

[33:40] across the county.

[33:42] Phase one in the November addresses long deferred needs for historic institution, Pine Valley's

[33:46] billowing model is outdated, impresons safety challenges, and new design and corrects this.

[33:52] New Trust Middle School relief significant overcrowding at Laney and River Light's Elementary

[33:56] Transition students and staff so modern facility the addresses both the growth in the area and the condition of

[34:02] Mary C Williams and Porter's neck was full when it opens, so it addresses that directly.

[34:07] I do want to know that Isaac Barrett early college, it didn't make the bond, but that school has operated out of trailers

[34:13] At young on the campus of UNCW for nearly 20 years, and those trailers are at the end of their life span, so I am actively

[34:19] And conversations with superintendent the chancellor of UNCW to work towards a solution for that

[34:25] So I just wanted folks to understand that that work continues.

[34:28] So I'll report to the public hearing on the first

[34:30] so our community can learn more about what the bond is

[34:32] and ask questions.

[34:34] So thank you, Eric.

[34:36] Commissioner Zappel.

[34:38] Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

[34:40] Eric, thank you for that.

[34:41] Run down, gave the public and everyone a really clear and detailed

[34:45] list of what it is we're anticipating.

[34:48] We just want to thank the members of the school board

[34:49] that took time today to come out to this

[34:51] and our school administration, Superintendent Barnes,

[34:54] assistant superintendent, Julie Barnum, that are here.

[34:58] I know over the past year, maybe that we've been more than that.

[35:03] We've been meeting, and I want to thank them for the transparency of the process.

[35:09] As we work through a variety of different options, we know that this is not the end.

[35:16] We are not solving all of the schools' problems, but we're taking a big hunk out of it.

[35:21] It's going to make our community better, also actually Sutton, the CFL, I didn't mean to leave you out.

[35:28] And you were just blocked from my view because you were an incredibly important part in all of these discussions.

[35:35] So I want to thank you again for the process that you made that being inclusive, myself and Commissioner Walker,

[35:41] being able to sit on there, it helped us move the information along to our commission and to get us here today.

[35:48] And what midday at this point here, we're moving at lightning speed when it comes to government.

[35:54] So thank you.

[35:56] And I just have a quick comment.

[35:57] I want to thank our school board members and our superintendent for being here.

[36:01] And for our citizens of New Hannover County, this is an example of your commissioners working together with the school board for the better of our children.

[36:09] This is something that's very important to us.

[36:11] This bond will have a lot of fixes for us and we're excited about it.

[36:16] And with that, I'd like to entertain a motion.

[36:19] I have a two-port motion, Madam Chair, number one, I want to acknowledge the bond order

[36:23] authorizing the issuance of 320,525,000 general obligation school bonds of New Hand, County

[36:31] of New Hand over North Carolina, and number two, that we adopt the resolution set in the

[36:36] public hearing for June 1st, 2026.

[36:39] Second.

[36:40] Okay.

[36:40] All in favor?

[36:41] All right.

[36:42] Okay.

[36:43] We'll follow up with that on June 1st.

[36:47] So our next item of business will be our fiscal year 2526 financial results from nine months ending March 31st, the 2026 presentation.

[36:59] Thank you, Madam Chair.

[37:01] As noted, we're going to review financial results through March 31st, 2026.

[37:08] This slide reflects the county's budgeted revenue sources for the year.

[37:11] As shown here, the property and state of sorry property and sales taxes fund 81% of the county's operations.

[37:17] And so those two items of revenue are critical for our financial results.

[37:23] This slide shows a history of our property tax rate over the last five years.

[37:27] This was a devaluation year in the large increase in property values and able the counties

[37:31] to reduce the property tax rate in 45 cents to 30.6 cents for this year.

[37:37] That is currently the fifth lowest property tax rate in the state to the right is the ranking

[37:41] of the lowest 10 counties in the state and the table below that shows several other

[37:44] of notes. With January 5th, being the last day this year that citizens could pay their property taxes

[37:50] without interest, we've now received the great majority of property taxes that we'll get for the year.

[37:57] This slide shows where we stand with regard to property taxes through the first week of May,

[38:02] as shown in the blue bar to the right, through May 7th property tax receipts of amount of $237.1 million,

[38:10] with a total budget of $241 million. This means that we need to collect $3.9 million,

[38:15] the rest of the fiscal year to achieve budget.

[38:18] Of that amount, we expect to receive $3,000,000

[38:21] on vehicle taxes by June 30th related

[38:23] to monthly license plate renewals.

[38:26] That means we need to realize $800,000 in other property taxes

[38:31] to achieve budget.

[38:32] Last year, between May and June, we received 550,000

[38:35] over that same period.

[38:37] So it's possible we may and just fractionally

[38:39] short on property tax revenue, which has been impacted

[38:41] by higher than anticipated appeals activity.

[38:44] but overall essentially writing budget, writing line with expectations.

[38:51] As noted earlier, sales taxes,

[38:52] at the second county second largest revenue source,

[38:55] this slide presents the most up-to-date information on sales taxes.

[38:59] The green bar to the left shows our actual receipts

[39:01] for the most recently reported month of February,

[39:04] 2026.

[39:06] Through that date, we received $74.4 million in sales taxes,

[39:11] which is $3.1 million lower than expected,

[39:13] and $2.1 billion less than last year, however this is favorable, untavable.

[39:19] Variances don't seem to be indicative of softness in the overall spending in the county.

[39:25] Instead, the underlying data shows that spending continues to steadily increase, but the

[39:29] county has experienced an unusually high level of sales tax refunds this year.

[39:35] As background, nonprofits and government into these pay sales taxes on all purchases

[39:39] at the time of purchase, just like anybody else, subsequently

[39:43] those types of entities can file refund request to the state to get them paid back.

[39:49] Those refund repayments are netted against the county's gross collections and the months

[39:52] that they are paid and thus they negatively impact the monthly sales tax amounts that we receive.

[39:59] This slide shows that gross sales tax is a work 0.5% for the county this year, while refunds

[40:05] of increased 210%.

[40:07] Further research indicated that this large increase in refunds was primarily due to a single

[40:12] large entity in the county that filed refund request going back three years, which is the

[40:17] maximum permissible. It is SAS expectations that refunds will now revert to lower amounts

[40:24] going forward and we should see an increase in sales tax receipts going forward. In that regard,

[40:30] this slide shows a performance sales tax amount that assumes this year's sales tax refunds

[40:35] matched the prior year. As indicated here, we would be seeing an overall 2.8 percent increase

[40:40] under that assumption.

[40:43] Given their significance, these slides just discussed,

[40:45] related property and sales taxes that were updated

[40:47] with the latest information possible,

[40:49] the rest of the slides to be discussed

[40:50] for remark 31st, 2026.

[40:55] This slide presents a snapshot of financial results

[40:57] with a standard green, yellow, and red light assessment

[40:59] with comments out to the side.

[41:02] As indicated by all the green lights,

[41:04] just about all of our items and funds are in good

[41:06] position at this point in the year.

[41:07] The only areas of concern was for how lighten and yellow were sales taxes and general fund expenditures.

[41:14] We just discussed sales taxes a moment ago and general fund expenditures will be discussed in just a moment.

[41:21] This slide presents the total revenue of the general fund total revenue year to date as amounted to 353 million compared to a budget of 337 million and the prior year of 322 million.

[41:33] So those are all favorable revenue variances.

[41:36] The primary reason for the variance compared to budget is the sales and nursing building

[41:40] to keep your community college for $11.4 million dollars that occurred last October.

[41:47] Compared to the prior year in addition to the building sale property taxes are up $17 million

[41:51] as results of growth of the tax base and a tax rate that was set 4.8% above revenue neutral.

[42:00] Total expenditure, so first nine months of fiscal year 2026,

[42:03] demanded the $327 million, which is $1 billion under budget,

[42:07] and $20 million, $29 million, higher than last year.

[42:12] While in line with budget, ideally, we would be tracking under budget,

[42:16] because we have a portion of our budget, it spends its expenses,

[42:19] the do not occur, until after June 30th,

[42:22] and we have to bring to you those items to be re-budgeted in the following year.

[42:26] As noted here, at this point last year, we were under budget by $22 million dollars, and

[42:32] two years ago, we were under budget by $13 million dollars.

[42:35] But you can also see that compared to the last quarter, when we were under budget by $3.5 million,

[42:40] we have moved in the right direction.

[42:43] And because of timing fluctuations, there will definitely be variances between the years.

[42:48] In reviewing underlying detail, the only item that stands out as the one that will likely

[42:52] not rights us, and all material respects by here and relates to our medical expenses.

[42:58] As discussed last in last quarter's report, we are trending significantly higher in medical

[43:02] clients compared to last year, and we also changed the timing of when we threw up our

[43:06] general leather expense.

[43:09] Separately, in prior reports to you, I noted the personnel expense was also trending higher

[43:13] because of the phase-end, a position reduction to occur this year, and the associated lump

[43:18] on payments due at the departure. While it is likely that we will not quite get all the way back to the budget, our personal expenses now tracking at or better than expectations, and any variances in this line items should be minor by year end.

[43:32] In comparing current year expenses to the prior year, I've listed five items at the bottom of the slide that it comprased in 1980 for some of the increase, including the higher medical expenses, increase investment in public education, and public safety, the Western Bank lane purchase,

[43:48] and higher economic and Senate payments.

[43:53] This slide shows more detail on the revenue items.

[43:57] We've noted already that property tax revenue, $235 million is in line with budget.

[44:02] Sales taxes are below expectations due to refunds.

[44:05] Another revenue shows the impact of the CFCC building sale.

[44:09] And it's noted at the bottom,

[44:13] we received a non-county agency grant from the endowment.

[44:15] And we've also now received $400,000 in our General Fund related to Hurricane Helene assistance reimbursements.

[44:26] This slide provides detail on our General Fund expenditures by major function.

[44:31] The blue bar for each function is actual expenses, and the red bar is budget.

[44:37] You can see that except for the General Government function, actual expenses are less than budget expenses.

[44:43] And that's because variance is a medical expense or house of a general fund, general government

[44:47] function.

[44:49] So that's the reason why the blue bar is higher than the red bar for that one function.

[44:54] And summary for the general fund is expected that this building sale revenue will all

[44:58] set the higher medical expense.

[45:00] And that overall this will result in performance in line with expectations.

[45:06] The environmental management fund is funded without taxes by charging fees for its services at the landfill.

[45:12] As shown here, revenue for the years amounted to $14.6 million, compared to a budget of $13.1 million, and the prior amount of $14.2 million.

[45:22] Tonage at the landfill, while slightly lower the last year remains at a high volume of 293,000 tons

[45:27] through the first nine months of the year, and as noted here, we received the first

[45:31] payment of $200,000 related to the gas-to-energy project. The current year implementation

[45:37] of the minimum charge at the landfill and penalties for ban materials have contributed to

[45:42] the favorable variances. Expenses are slightly higher than last year, but are turning

[45:47] lower than budget, which is primarily due to timing and payments.

[45:52] Expenses exceed revenue at this point in the year, only because budget

[45:55] it transfers out to capital project funds, and they've been fully made now, and there'll

[45:59] be no more in the fourth quarter.

[46:04] As it relates to fire services, it's revenue is primarily derived from property and sales

[46:08] taxes, which are tracking within 1% of budget.

[46:12] As noted here, also noted here, the property rescue has, I'm sorry, the fire rescue has

[46:17] for $200,000 in Hurricane Helene reimbursement payments

[46:21] thus far this year.

[46:23] The large increase in revenue compared to the prior year

[46:26] is due to this year's property re-daluation

[46:28] without a corresponding tax rate change

[46:30] in the fire rescue fund.

[46:32] The extra revenue is funding the debt payments related

[46:34] to two new fire stations,

[46:37] staffing with the net addition of one station,

[46:39] as well as a pilot staffing model

[46:41] with one of those stations

[46:42] to help determine the best level of service.

[46:45] While those factors result

[46:46] expenses being higher than prior year, you can see that they are below budget, which is primarily

[46:50] associated with a budget to purchase for a fire engine that is expected to occur in the next

[46:54] three months.

[46:59] This is the fifth year of the county providing storm water services to the Unincorporated

[47:03] County.

[47:04] The fees are included in the property tax bills, and thus followed with similar look pattern

[47:08] ever seen.

[47:09] The storm water fee charge to citizens in the Unincorporated County is unchanged from prior

[47:13] year, and as you can see on the left hand side of the chart, total revenue is consistent

[47:17] with the budget and prior year.

[47:20] expenditures of $3.1 billion, the first nine months of the year, are below the budget of

[47:24] $4.1 billion, due primarily to the courney pines and orphaned colver replacement and

[47:31] the still-will road-repeating each of which are just getting started.

[47:36] Expenses compared to the prior year, up $800,000, due to the execution of several projects,

[47:41] including whisky preventative maintenance, southern New Hainabra County preventative

[47:47] maintenance, eight-worn grants for the maintenance, and a battle-part-ditch upgrade.

[47:55] This slide relates to the debt service fund, revenue for this fund is primarily

[47:58] comprised of property taxes, sales taxes, and transfers in from the general fund.

[48:04] Revenue is in line with expectations, and general fund transfers will even out the revenue

[48:07] with expenditures by year-end, expenditures in this fund are made according to the repayment

[48:13] schedules of underlying debt, everything, and this fund is tracking a line with expectations.

[48:17] Thank you and that prepares that concludes my comments.

[48:22] Thank you, Eric.

[48:23] Again, you and staff are doing such a great job on this budget.

[48:26] There's been a couple of months now, and we've got a great presentation from you.

[48:30] Are there any questions or comments on Commissioner's apple?

[48:34] Thank you, Matt.

[48:35] Complete run-down, everything.

[48:37] A couple of follow-up questions.

[48:40] First, you mentioned there was a single entity in New Handover County that was responsible for the

[48:47] majority of the refunds that happened with our sales tax.

[48:51] But what entity is that?

[48:53] No, Vaughan Health.

[48:55] I see.

[48:56] And why would they have a three-year look back?

[49:00] I don't know the reason for that.

[49:01] And again, you're allowed to get back three years, and I would just must have taken several

[49:05] years to get all their documentation together to follow the refund request.

[49:10] I see.

[49:10] But with that, it's now caught them up completely, so we will not see that kind of hit in the

[49:15] future.

[49:16] Correct.

[49:16] back here. Also, I noted there, we had a $200,000, I think revenue source from Hurricane

[49:25] Haleen, Hurricane Haleen, of course, happened in the western part of the state. How is it

[49:30] that we're receiving money for that? I should have explained that, yes or so. We assisted

[49:36] Bunkham County. We spent staff out for both, fire rescue as well as other county staff that

[49:41] were there for the better part of a month. So we heard that expense up front and then we

[49:46] get our documentation together to submit to FEMA and state resources and then we get reimbursed

[49:51] for this cost after the fact that it takes them while to get all that through the process.

[49:56] There are how many people did we send out there to Bunkham County?

[49:59] I don't know the answer to that.

[50:00] I mean, commissioners, I don't remember the number, but at any point in time we had approximately

[50:07] 5% of the workforce on the ground throughout Western North Carolina, but that's inclusive of

[50:13] fire service, law enforcement, and general fund operations.

[50:19] So at any given time, there were 5% of the workforce on the ground.

[50:22] Primarily in support of Monkeham, but we were in many counties in the West.

[50:27] 5% of our workforce, yes, sir.

[50:30] That's a wonderful and incredible response.

[50:34] Thank you.

[50:35] That's all we had.

[50:36] I'm sorry.

[50:37] I'm sorry.

[50:38] I think it was just I was trying to get that.

[50:39] Commissioner, is there any further comments or questions for Eric?

[50:42] We are having a public hearing and as some of you have signed up, so we'll be with you in just a second.

[50:47] Any more questions or comments?

[50:48] No, thanks for that overview, Eric.

[50:50] Thank you.

[50:52] All right.

[50:54] So we will move into our public comment.

[50:57] We have nine people signed up.

[50:59] This is the public comment regarding the budget.

[51:08] Madam Chair, I think that there is perhaps a slight presentation that staff needs to make

[51:13] prior to opening the public hearing or if I got that out of order.

[51:17] Is that it?

[51:17] So, that was Eric presentation on the current year.

[51:22] You do have in your books for the next item,

[51:26] the public hearing on the recommended FY27 budget.

[51:30] For fear of having been redundant unnecessarily,

[51:36] because I would argue this is the most public

[51:38] and transparent budget.

[51:41] The county's been a part to, as staff,

[51:44] we're probably better equipped to answer questions.

[51:46] you may have before the public hearing is open, but the punch line is, the tax rate we have

[51:52] proposed remains the same at 30.6%, and I think you continue to make first among equals

[52:00] public education. Beyond your action earlier on the bond question, there is more than 111 million

[52:08] dollars in this recommended budget dedicated to the public school system, current expense, capital

[52:16] pre-K.

[52:17] And so Madam Chair, if there are any questions about it, I'd like to ask 27 recommended

[52:21] budget.

[52:21] We can answer those.

[52:22] Thank you for clarifying that.

[52:24] Unless there's any more questions, commissioners.

[52:25] I think we can hear from the public.

[52:27] And then we can close our public hearing.

[52:28] And then maybe have some discussion.

[52:31] Thank you, Madam Chair.

[52:32] Chris, I just want to elaborate a little bit on the school funding.

[52:35] That $111 million does not include the money that we put in for the SROs, is that correct?

[52:42] Correct, no, sir.

[52:43] It does not include SRO, school-based mental health, therapist, a range of other direct support,

[52:51] school nurses, that that number begins to push toward $104,000,000,000,000 in direct support.

[52:59] but this 111 is dedicated to the K-12 system that is a transfer from New Hanover County

[53:08] to the New Hanover County Public Schools system.

[53:10] I think the number is 141 million but who's counting?

[53:15] I just wanted to make sure the public understood about the really strong support from this

[53:21] entire commission and our staff for the Public Schools system.

[53:24] I want to make sure that was all accounted for.

[53:26] Yes, sir, when you include capital pre-K, plus the current expense, the amount of increase

[53:32] for K-12, and our recommended budget is only what are 4%.

[53:38] So, thank you for pointing that out.

[53:39] I'm sorry.

[53:40] That's a good point.

[53:41] So, we are looking at everything cumulative, 140, yes, ma'am, 140.

[53:47] That's a good point, because we often don't do that, and we need the folks need to know

[53:51] that's 140 million dollars, too, towards a number of county schools.

[53:54] Also, just to add that believe that we have met the school board at their ask to us this year and again, thank you all for being here and for your hard work on putting a budget together collaboratively and we are trying to do the same thing in collaboration with you.

[54:11] I'll just also mention Madam Chair before we open the public hearing that we have had continuing negotiations in dialogue.

[54:19] I know that there are some individuals that are here to speak.

[54:22] I believe that it is likely the will of this board that in addition to the staff recommended

[54:26] budget that you have previously seen, we are going to contemplate additional dollars being

[54:33] allocated to the Community Justice Center, the Arts Council of New Handover County,

[54:37] Failium Hall, Legal Aid, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, Alliance for Cape Your Trees,

[54:43] the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and the Cameron Art Museum.

[54:46] I know that some of you are here to speak to those matters, and I'm glad to hear from you, I know we all are, but I want you to know that we've been talking about you all weekend, and I think that you're going to end up in the budget, whenever it's all set and done.

[54:59] Any more comments before the public hearing?

[55:04] We're going to talk about that.

[55:06] Yes.

[55:06] We will have some discussion after public hearing.

[55:17] All right.

[55:17] budget and appropriations for economic development that are part of the budget. The purpose

[55:22] of the hearing is to receive public comment on those matters and I will make a motion

[55:26] to open this public hearing.

[55:29] All in favor?

[55:30] All in.

[55:31] And we have a list, folks.

[55:32] And you'll have three minutes, each, and Dr. Barnes, you're first on the list.

[55:46] Before you think we're overstatth, this is like a...

[55:48] And team.

[55:49] I brought everybody.

[55:52] All right.

[55:52] So we are pleased to present the new Hanover County School's fiscal year 2627 budget.

[55:57] This document represents a shared commitment to providing every student with a high quality

[56:01] education, while also showing responsible stewardship of public resources.

[56:07] At the core, this budget is about a reflection of the community's values and priorities.

[56:12] Each dollar is strategically aligned to strengthen instructional programming while fostering

[56:17] safe environments where students are supported and challenged.

[56:22] Districts across the state are requesting

[56:25] increasing their local investments of 10, 20, 30 million dollars. They're experiencing

[56:31] the same decreases in enrollment and funding that we met two years ago. Together we made

[56:37] hard decisions a couple of years ago to get us to the place where we're balanced and we're stable.

[56:43] We are always going to have unmet needs of course we are, but I want to make it clear that

[56:48] that is not due to the support of the commissioners.

[56:53] Last year, we lost over $2 million in state funding to supplement our local supplements.

[57:00] One district's similar in size to us has had to pass that reduction onto their employees.

[57:07] Some districts are going to struggle to balance the 8% proposed salary increase for teachers.

[57:12] I want to make it clear without the consistent support of this body working collaboratively with our board and our staff that could easily have been us.

[57:23] We aren't facing that because we've been working together to meet the needs of middle in the middle and communicate needs transparently.

[57:30] School problems need community solutions.

[57:34] Thank you for making sure that our resources, time and energy is spent building bridges and not barricades.

[57:39] You didn't just meet our budget asked, you exceeded it, and I want to make that clear as well.

[57:45] And together, as we work together, we're going to continue to build a system that supports every student, every day.

[57:51] Anything on this?

[57:53] All right.

[57:54] Thank you.

[57:55] Thank you.

[57:56] Dr. Barnes, and I just got one comment.

[57:58] Y'all look great standing up there together.

[57:59] I like, from our view that way.

[58:02] You look great, son.

[58:03] Appreciate y'all.

[58:04] Thank you for what you did.

[58:09] It was a bellish effort.

[58:19] Good morning, commissioners.

[58:21] My name is Isabelle Shepherd, and I'm the executive director of the Alliance for Cape

[58:25] Peer trees.

[58:26] I'm here today to thank New Handover County for considering an investment in the Alliance

[58:30] in this year's budget.

[58:32] At its core, this is an investment in public infrastructure, community health, and quality

[58:38] of life.

[58:40] Because trees are not simply aesthetic amenities, they're working infrastructure.

[58:44] They reduced flooding and stormwater runoff.

[58:48] They cool neighborhoods during dangerous summer heat.

[58:51] They improve air quality, lower energy costs, improved property values,

[58:55] and strengthened resilience during hurricanes and severe storms.

[59:00] And we know this work is urgently needed.

[59:02] New Hennever County's recent TREA canopy assessment found that the unincorporated county

[59:07] lost more than 3,000 acres of TREA canopy between 2014 and 2022

[59:13] driven largely by development, storms, infrastructure,

[59:18] expansion, and private tree removal.

[59:21] The alliance exists to help meet that challenge.

[59:24] This past planting season alone, we distributed more

[59:28] than 2,500 native trees in Newhand over County

[59:32] and planted about 300 along city streets in parks

[59:37] and on school grounds.

[59:40] We expect to surpass those numbers this coming planting season through several large-scale

[59:46] community planting and distribution events already in development.

[59:52] But that's what makes the Alliance especially effective in our ability to multiply the impact

[59:56] of every dollar invested in us.

[1:00:00] We leverage grant funding, private philanthropy, corporate sponsorships, and hundreds of volunteer hours to expand the reach of our work far beyond what our operating budget alone would otherwise allow.

[1:00:13] Through partnerships with municipalities, schools, neighborhood groups and businesses, we are able to stretch resources, mobilize volunteers, and respond quickly to community needs and ways that governments often cannot do alone.

[1:00:26] And importantly, public investment comes with accountability and transparency.

[1:00:32] We track where our trees are planted, monitor their care and survival, report measurable

[1:00:37] outcomes, and maintain strong partnerships with local governments and community stakeholders,

[1:00:43] like New Handover County Schools.

[1:00:46] This is a collaborative model that allows the county to invest in canopy growth and environmental

[1:00:52] resilience while maximizing return on investment for taxpayers.

[1:00:57] This funding would help ensure that new Hanover County residents, particularly those in

[1:01:02] low canopy areas, can experience the environmental, economic, and health benefits of

[1:01:07] a thriving urban forest.

[1:01:10] And, as new Hanover County continues to grow, we would also love to see continued exploration

[1:01:16] of additional urban forestry capacity in the future, including the possibility of a county

[1:01:23] arborist dedicated to reviewing development plans and supporting long-term canopy preservation

[1:01:29] strategies. We believe that nonprofit partnership and public sector expertise can go hand-in-hand

[1:01:36] to help guide smart growth while preserving the natural character that makes this community so special.

[1:01:42] Thank you so much for your time.

[1:01:44] Thank you.

[1:01:46] Lynn A.

[1:01:47] Budski.

[1:01:52] Good morning, commissioners.

[1:01:53] My name is Lynn A. Budski.

[1:01:55] I'm the director of Education and Entrepreneurship at

[1:01:57] Thalian Hall.

[1:01:58] I have our board members.

[1:02:00] Thank you for your time and thank you for considering

[1:02:04] Thalian Hall and your budget for over 160 years.

[1:02:09] Thalian Hall has been the cultural heartbeat of new

[1:02:11] Hanover County and our transformation project isn't just

[1:02:15] about updating a historic building,

[1:02:18] it's about unlocking what this building

[1:02:20] can do for our community's economic future.

[1:02:23] This transformation makes possible

[1:02:25] the Institute of Education and Entrepreneurship.

[1:02:28] This is a first of its kind initiative for Thaley and Hall

[1:02:31] that bridges the gap between creative passion

[1:02:33] and sustainable economic opportunity.

[1:02:36] The IEE, the Institute, is built on six pillars,

[1:02:40] so I'm gonna go through them as quickly as I can, it's a lot.

[1:02:43] So, the first is the Education Center.

[1:02:45] This is the home for all our initiatives serving K through 12

[1:02:49] entire education students.

[1:02:51] This includes our beloved Pied Piper Theater program,

[1:02:54] which has been running for over 75 years,

[1:02:57] and last January served over 7,500 first and second graders.

[1:03:01] The Pied Piper Institute is a pilot program

[1:03:04] that is coming this October, which will provide CEU accreditation

[1:03:08] to educators in New Hanover County.

[1:03:10] We will also have a part of this pillar use camps focused on theatrical technique and building a career as an artist and an artist residency and program outreach program that provides workshops, master classes, and lectures given by artists and residents to community groups that can most benefit.

[1:03:28] The second pillar is our Burk Holder Institute for Emerging Stage Technicians, which creates a direct workforce pipeline through internships and apprenticeships for ages 17 and up and trains the next generation of technical professionals for careers and entertainment which is a billion dollar national industry.

[1:03:45] Our entrepreneurial programs is our third pillar and not provide structure, mentorship, and business training for creative entrepreneurs, which keeps talent from leaving our county.

[1:03:56] Our fourth is the Creative Studio Lab, which offers affordable rehearsal and production space, which keeps creative dollars circulating locally and supporting the growing film, music and theater industries in our region.

[1:04:08] Our fifth pillar is our Archives and Library, which has a daily tour program, driving heritage tourism,

[1:04:15] which preserves history that makes Wilmington a destination for tourism.

[1:04:21] And finally, our sixth pillar is one that we're still working on, but that will deliver complimentary arts programming to residents,

[1:04:29] struggling with mental health and housing and security, which will reduce the long-term burden on public services.

[1:04:35] So, all of this is within this Institute of Education and Entrepreneurship and it's an investment in workforce development, tourism, entrepreneurship and community health.

[1:04:46] So, thank you for standing with us and supporting us in our community.

[1:04:50] Thank you.

[1:04:51] Thank you.

[1:04:52] Natalie English.

[1:04:59] Good morning, Chair Peers, Vice Chair Scalice and Commissioners,

[1:05:03] Rev. Mark Walker and Zappel.

[1:05:06] I'm Natalie English, President and CEO of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce,

[1:05:10] and also a New Handover County residence.

[1:05:13] And I would like to thank the county for your continued partnership

[1:05:16] with the Chamber of Small Business, Retention and Expansion Program in New Handover County.

[1:05:21] We all know that small businesses are the foundation of our local economy.

[1:05:26] They create jobs, strength and commercial corridors,

[1:05:28] invests back into our community and help shape the character of Southeast and North Carolina.

[1:05:34] At the same time, many business owners are navigating significant challenges, rising

[1:05:39] operating costs, workforce shortages, permitting and infrastructure concerns, supply chain pressures

[1:05:46] and increased competition as our region continues to grow.

[1:05:51] Your investment allows the chamber to continue the relationship-based economic development work

[1:05:56] that often happens quietly behind the scenes, but has a real impact on local employers

[1:06:02] and our broader economy. Through this program, the Chamber conducts more than 100

[1:06:08] business retention and expansion visits every year with companies across New Canada

[1:06:12] or County. These conversations help us identify early challenges, connect businesses,

[1:06:18] with resources and partners like Kate Fair Community College, the Small Business and Technology

[1:06:23] development center, EDP and C, workforce development partners and organizations, and other companies

[1:06:30] that can support them and help them create jobs locally.

[1:06:34] Since the launch of the program, the initiative has supported 70 business expansion or

[1:06:39] relocation projects, helped facilitate more than 585 projected increased jobs and assisted

[1:06:47] in nearly $57 million in capital investment throughout our community.

[1:06:52] In addition to that traditional BRE work we like to call at this partnership also supports

[1:06:57] entrepreneurship and innovation through programs such as 1 million cups Wilmington,

[1:07:02] the Small Business Coalition, Venture South Wilmington, and the Chamber Export Partnership.

[1:07:08] We appreciate your recognition that supporting small businesses is not only smart economic

[1:07:13] development policy, it's community development policy. Strong local businesses contribute to a

[1:07:20] Stronger, more resilient New Hanover County for everyone.

[1:07:24] Thank you again for your continued partnership and commitment to the long-term success of

[1:07:28] our Small Business Community.

[1:07:32] Round of Bellamy?

[1:07:40] Good morning, Chairwoman.

[1:07:41] Peers, Commissioners, and County staff.

[1:07:44] For the record, I am Ron Debellamy, CEO of the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover

[1:07:49] County.

[1:07:50] The county's designated arts agency since 2013 and one of the region's most effective economic

[1:07:56] development partners.

[1:07:57] We support and strengthen a nonprofit art sector with an annual economic impact of $75 million.

[1:08:06] That ecosystem supports the equivalent of 1,258 full-time jobs and generates millions in local

[1:08:13] state and federal tax revenue every year.

[1:08:17] That's not to mention the four-profit sector, which we also support through initiatives like

[1:08:24] The arts are not a luxury sector.

[1:08:26] We are a workforce sector, a tourism sector, a small business sector,

[1:08:32] and a quality of life sector that directly influences talent

[1:08:35] recruitment, entrepreneurship, downtown vitality,

[1:08:39] and community identity.

[1:08:42] One of three attendees that performances and arts events

[1:08:45] in New Year of Accounting comes from outside the county.

[1:08:48] These visitors do not simply buy tickets, they stay in hotels, they die in restaurants, shop

[1:08:54] in local businesses, pay for parking, and contribute to our hospitality economy.

[1:09:00] By the way, one of the national partners on the study that I'm citing is the National

[1:09:04] Association of Counties.

[1:09:07] The Arts Council serves as the connective tissue for this entire ecosystem.

[1:09:11] We provide grants technical assistance, advocacy, marketing support, fiscal sponsorship,

[1:09:17] public art coordination, cultural planning, leadership, and

[1:09:21] sector-wide collaboration. Our work has become a statewide and

[1:09:25] regional model. In fact, the Arts Council is serving as the

[1:09:29] prototype for the greater Charleston Arts and Culture Alliance.

[1:09:33] As leaders in South Carolina look to replicate the collaborative

[1:09:37] infrastructure we've built here in Newhandover County.

[1:09:42] And I'll tell you, it just gets better. We're proud to be the

[1:09:46] First, organization granted intermediary status by the new head of a community endowment,

[1:09:52] a recognition of our credibility, and accountability.

[1:09:56] At the same time, we're facing a significant challenge, because the new head of

[1:10:00] account is population is officially tipped, 250,000, and because we're classified as a tier-3

[1:10:06] county based on relative wealth, we will lose approximately $74,000 in recurring state funding.

[1:10:12] And that I really is not lost on me.

[1:10:15] I'm past chair of Arts, North Carolina,

[1:10:17] and pushed through some of these changes

[1:10:19] that we're not going to be able to benefit from.

[1:10:23] I would close by saying economic development

[1:10:26] is not only about industrial recruitment

[1:10:28] and commercial expansion,

[1:10:30] it's also about investing in the arts.

[1:10:32] Thank you very much for your time.

[1:10:34] Thank you very much.

[1:10:36] Thank you very much.

[1:10:36] Can I bear?

[1:10:46] Low and thank you.

[1:10:48] I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.

[1:10:49] I appreciate all the work you're doing, and just as I've said every single time I've gotten up here to speak with you,

[1:10:55] I am very grateful for all you do for our schools above and beyond what the state requires.

[1:11:01] My name's Tim Merrick and while I am on the Board of Education, I'm not here speaking for the Board of Education,

[1:11:07] but as a concerned citizen, as a candidate for the state legislature.

[1:11:12] So, while I'm grateful for you meeting our schools requests, especially after last year,

[1:11:20] cutting funding to so many important positions, it does occur to be a must-been election season.

[1:11:26] And for that, I am grateful and for all you're doing, I'm grateful.

[1:11:31] I'm concerned about how we're doing it.

[1:11:33] I'm concerned about the way that we're robbing a piggy bank or we're borrowing from Dad,

[1:11:38] but maybe what we need to do is go out and do a slightly larger paper route.

[1:11:43] We can't afford the financial cliff that's going to happen.

[1:11:47] If we refuse to understand the increased costs that happen every single year,

[1:11:53] we need a cost of living increase in the way that we collect our revenue.

[1:11:59] I also want to talk about our affordable housing.

[1:12:02] You know, it was cut, when last year when you defunded our workforce housing commission,

[1:12:11] we lost a lot of opportunity to create housing.

[1:12:14] And as you know, one half of the workforce of this county cannot afford to live in this

[1:12:20] county.

[1:12:21] And so even while you defunded the workforce housing commission, I could have appreciated

[1:12:27] if you'd kept the committee.

[1:12:29] Because that committee did research.

[1:12:31] that committee is there to help you understand what's going to happen next year and the next year.

[1:12:36] Those trends are terribly important. We cannot afford to keep building expensive homes for new

[1:12:44] people moving to our area. If we don't allow our workforce to live here, our nurses, our school

[1:12:50] teachers, our firefighters, and so many other very important members of our community just need to

[1:12:56] to invest in a home, develop generational wealth and I urge you, if not in this budget, then

[1:13:03] the next budget please take a look at what we need to do to make our housing affordable.

[1:13:12] Finally,

[1:13:15] besides, thank you's, it is incumbent on everybody who worked for government.

[1:13:22] Everybody who's been elected to remember everyone.

[1:13:26] It's not just the folks who may have been in the party who voted for us, it's not just the folks who may be bring us money.

[1:13:32] We need to remember the people who don't have a voice.

[1:13:36] The people who can't afford to live here.

[1:13:38] The people who can't reasonably expect a future.

[1:13:44] Your job is to work for everybody to make sure we have a community that we're all proud to live in.

[1:13:54] You've done a great job, and thank you for supporting our schools as well.

[1:13:58] Thank you, Tim.

[1:13:59] Liz Gammlin.

[1:14:08] Good morning.

[1:14:09] And thank you, Chair, Pierce, Dean Scalese, Commissioner Zappel, Commissioner Walker,

[1:14:16] and Commissioner Mivenbark.

[1:14:18] I have been with the Symphony for eight years, and the Symphony has been around for

[1:14:24] 55 years.

[1:14:26] When we talk about budget, we're typically talking about roads and infrastructure,

[1:14:30] But today I'd like to talk about education in the importance that the Symphony plays in the role of education within New Hanova County.

[1:14:40] While our funding we're asking for funding for our fourth of July program,

[1:14:46] we are asking you to fund that because we don't want to divert funds that we're putting into education and committing to new programs for our students.

[1:14:56] If you don't know, the symphony has just moved.

[1:15:00] From our small administrative offices of 1400 square feet to a new location on Market Street of 8,000 square feet.

[1:15:09] If we divert funding, we won't be able to build our new programs.

[1:15:14] We partner with other arts education leaders in New Hanova County, such as theater for all,

[1:15:20] the Dream Center for Arts in Education. We partner with the Arts Council.

[1:15:25] We're asking you to find us not only for our free forth of July program, but for us to be able to continue to offer services to the students and families of New Hanova County.

[1:15:37] We give them free tickets to our symphony.

[1:15:40] It should not be a luxury to go to a symphonic concert.

[1:15:43] We go into the schools with our symphony and talk about music education.

[1:15:48] with our new space, we're looking to program the after school programs and continue to

[1:15:54] partner with other students in the schools and with dreams and with other arts organizations.

[1:16:01] We hope you consider this, it's a big deal for us where we are so committed to making sure

[1:16:07] that every child has, if they want to come to play with us, they can have free tickets, they

[1:16:15] And I want to just make sure that we are accessible to all, not just people who can afford it.

[1:16:21] And I thank you so much for hearing me and for talking about us over the weekend.

[1:16:26] And I thank everyone in this audience who helped support the symphony because I love to support all of you also.

[1:16:34] And that's it.

[1:16:34] Thank you very much.

[1:16:45] I'm sorry, Margie, I'll let you tell me when you get up there.

[1:16:51] Thank you, commissioners. It's Margie Gordsman. I'm here on behalf of myself.

[1:16:57] I've been listening to the budget and I want to maybe submit a warning about taking pride

[1:17:06] in having the lowest tax rate out of 100 counties and we're in the lowest five because

[1:17:13] the price is paid regardless if it's with our pennies or not.

[1:17:18] My son is graduating from Hoggard this year and he spoke to me this week about something that

[1:17:25] to start me every month in the school cafeteria. He has watched fellow students assault each

[1:17:35] other every month for the last two years that he's been in the school district. And I said

[1:17:44] well where were the adults? He says there's never an adult in the lunchrooms.

[1:17:50] We lost

[1:17:50] how many staff members over the last four years.

[1:17:56] And this is not just, you know, commission level,

[1:17:58] this is state level, this is federal level.

[1:18:01] When we don't fund our communities,

[1:18:06] our children are the ones that pay.

[1:18:08] I didn't have to grow up in a high school

[1:18:10] where I watched assaults happen in front of me.

[1:18:12] It was incredibly disright.

[1:18:14] He said, mom, I'm lucky that I'm white,

[1:18:18] and I'm with the band.

[1:18:19] I have somewhere to go.

[1:18:20] But it was incredibly disregulating to see and witness this violence in front of me at every month

[1:18:27] So I just wanted to remind you guys

[1:18:31] You're still paying the cost. I would prefer the parents pay it and not the children. Thank you so much

[1:18:38] Thank you

[1:18:39] Okay, so that's everyone who signed up for public hearing and I will

[1:18:43] Make a

[1:18:45] Motion to close the public hearing

[1:18:47] Second all in favor

[1:18:50] And we'd like to have some discussion here before we move on to the nation.

[1:18:58] I think that Madam Chair, we've done a pretty darn good job of being transparent over

[1:19:04] the last several months.

[1:19:05] The county manager mentioned during these comments before that we've been discussing

[1:19:10] this budget over the course of, I guess, since February.

[1:19:17] And it is substantially today what it was at that time, although there have been some dialogue that we've had with one another.

[1:19:29] We've had to figure out how we're going to pay for this item and pay for that item.

[1:19:33] But I think that the budget, as presented by staff, does a very good job of funding core services while maintaining our tax rate at the level that it is now.

[1:19:44] That's very important to me.

[1:19:46] I think it's very important to any number of our citizens.

[1:19:49] They are, as I've mentioned in the prior hearing, getting hit from a lot of different directions by a lot of different entities.

[1:19:56] Not just governmental entities, but Duke Energy and the like.

[1:20:00] We have the ability with the way that we have structured our budget and the monies that we have saved in our fund balance,

[1:20:08] which I'll mention for the benefit of the public.

[1:20:10] The state requires that New Handover County maintain eight percent for its fund balance.

[1:20:17] We have more than double that.

[1:20:20] That's important.

[1:20:21] We have saved a lot of money.

[1:20:23] We maintain a substantial savings.

[1:20:25] We also have a revenue stabilization fund, which we've talked about, and I don't intend

[1:20:29] to talk about at length today, but we are in good financial position and it is my hope

[1:20:34] and I think the hope of all of us that regardless of what we do with this budget

[1:20:39] today that over the next year we're going to see some improvements in the economy. We're going

[1:20:45] to see our sales tax rebound. We're going to see a stabilization with our employee benefits,

[1:20:51] our health insurance, which is costing a little more than we expected, and it is my sincere

[1:20:55] belief that we're going to be able to level out on the way that we're structuring this budget

[1:21:01] into the next year. And that's a bit of a hope, it's a bit of a prayer, but I don't think it's

[1:21:07] reasonable hope. It's not an unreasonable prayer. It's one that's based on believing in

[1:21:12] New Handover County and the growth that we are undergoing right now. We're doing great

[1:21:17] as a county. Our economy is continuing to move along and we're going to invest in a variety

[1:21:24] of important entities, organizations, and we're going to be able to do all of that without raising

[1:21:30] taxes. To me that is a great testament to the will of this board and to the talent of our staff,

[1:21:38] And I think that we've got this thing in about as good as a shape as we're going to get it in.

[1:21:42] There is no perfect budget, of course not.

[1:21:46] But this one is pretty darn good.

[1:21:48] And as I mentioned before at the appropriate time, I will make a motion to accept the stats,

[1:21:54] recommendation, and add some additional items to it that we've discussed over the weekend.

[1:21:58] But for right now, Madam Chair, I feel like we've done a pretty good job.

[1:22:02] Commissioner Dappel.

[1:22:03] Thank you Madam Chair. I'd like to go back to some of our public comments, especially about the schools.

[1:22:11] I have the opportunity and the honor to represent New Handover County and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

[1:22:18] And this past weekend we had a Board of Directors meeting out in Cherokee County, actually Jackson County, far into the state.

[1:22:26] At that time, there are about 50 county commissioners who are on the board of directors.

[1:22:33] And I've got to say, this is a continuing theme, it's not just this year, the number

[1:22:38] of counties that are talking about having to actually close schools that are unable to fund fully

[1:22:46] their sheriff's department and are cutting back on their core services in this year's budget.

[1:22:53] It's stunning, and I sit and listen and realize that's not the conversation that we're

[1:22:58] having here at all, and I have great sympathy for all of those commissioners who are

[1:23:04] having to struggle with that, and it's not a few, it's a lot.

[1:23:10] In North Carolina, of course, we have 100 counties, at least 85 of those who would be considered

[1:23:15] rural, and those are the ones I'm talking about that are struggling.

[1:23:19] And it's very disheartening to know that we live in such a prosperous state over all that's

[1:23:27] growing and to see these issues happening.

[1:23:30] But again, we live in a great place in New Hanover County, and I believe that this budget

[1:23:37] that's being proposed here, they're multiple, very positive items that are in there, full

[1:23:43] funding of our school system actually a little bit more than what they ask for, they continue

[1:23:49] funding of pre-K and investments in our public safety is among those really positive

[1:23:56] items.

[1:23:58] Additionally, with this revision that we're considering the funding of our Community Justice

[1:24:03] Center, which is doing terrific work throughout our community, and our arts council and

[1:24:10] other key non-profits.

[1:24:12] This budget funds many of these items that our citizens have identified as priorities.

[1:24:18] I have had my objections during the debate process over the last few months with this budget.

[1:24:27] It's never been about what we're funding because I believe as a commission we are in line with each other as to what we want to have funded,

[1:24:37] especially now with the revisions being layered in as well.

[1:24:42] My objections have always been about how it is being funded.

[1:24:46] And I know that we will be wrestling with the same issue next year.

[1:24:51] Commissioner Scalice mentioned what I hope will be a rising tide economically here in New

[1:24:58] Hanover County because we have a structural imbalance that we will have to deal with.

[1:25:07] Hopefully, brighter economic sales, tax revenues, etc., will lessen that strain.

[1:25:14] But knowing that, I will support this budget with the revisions because of the good that

[1:25:22] it will bring to our community.

[1:25:26] I'll be ready to second that motion once it's made.

[1:25:30] We live in a great place and as difficult as this budget season has been, I firmly believe

[1:25:36] that it's going to elevate all of our community with what's in this budget.

[1:25:44] Thank you, Madam Chair.

[1:25:47] questions, wish them all good.

[1:25:50] All right, thank you.

[1:25:53] So I want to start by saying I support everything in this budget.

[1:25:56] The school funding and pre-K restoration I fought pretty hard for, and I'm glad we're all in agreement there.

[1:26:02] For me, this is not about what this budget does.

[1:26:05] It is about how we are paying for it.

[1:26:08] I want to acknowledge County staff, you worked hard within the parameters you were given,

[1:26:12] and your own budget document is honest about the limits of what you were asked to do.

[1:26:16] And for I finish that I just want to, I didn't prepare any big big sign.

[1:26:22] This is a lot of the things our county does that I don't think people really realize what

[1:26:26] we do here and why we enjoy the life that we do here.

[1:26:30] You've got public schools, cater community college, pre-K, public health, social services,

[1:26:35] senior resource center, veteran services, the courts, registered deeds, board of elections,

[1:26:40] Oakie Oakie Oakie Oakie Oakie Settlement Programs to Sheriff's the Jail 911 Animal Shelters Libraries, Parks and Gardens, the Museum, an Arts Council support stormwater management, environmental and landfill, recycling, beach erosion control, inspections, planning, economic development, wave, and error airport authority, and much more. They're all in the sheet.

[1:27:05] This is the second year in a row of the sport is using one-time money to pay for recurring expenses.

[1:27:10] Last year we drew out $8.1 million from our fund balance and that money is gone.

[1:27:15] The bills have come back anyway and will in the future.

[1:27:19] This year we fill the gap the same way and we are borrowing on top of it.

[1:27:23] Another 3.9 million from fund balance in the budget boroughs of over 13 million.

[1:27:28] Money that has to be paid back to cover expenses that will come back again next year.

[1:27:34] Barling has a cost.

[1:27:35] That cost is paid by taxpayers with interest.

[1:27:38] That is the deferred tax increase.

[1:27:40] And the county's own budget document says none of this addresses the long-term relationship

[1:27:44] between recurring revenues and expenses.

[1:27:48] Fund balance exists for a reason.

[1:27:50] When a storm hits, or when a crisis comes, when something goes wrong,

[1:27:54] that nobody planned for. That fund is what stands between the county and very hard choice. Drawing

[1:28:00] it down to hold a tax rate is not responsible stewardship of that safety net. We are the good

[1:28:05] lowest tax rate as we have mentioned here a few times today. Right-sizing that rate is not a punishment.

[1:28:11] It is an honest answer and is responsible governance. There will be a reckoning and some of us will

[1:28:16] still be sitting in these seats when it comes and I just want to put my dissent on record today.

[1:28:21] I'm not opposed to this budget's values, I'm opposed to how it's being funded and for that reason, I will not be supporting this budget.

[1:28:28] Thank you, Commissioner Walker.

[1:28:30] And I'll have a few comments, but I do want to ask the manager, is this a budgeting strategy that you've used in the past?

[1:28:38] Is this something new to this year or is this something that you do every year?

[1:28:43] With the borrowing for certain items.

[1:28:45] Every budget that I have ever recommended to the board. Yes, ma'am did include borrowed money for capital

[1:28:53] Kind of capital outlady that I mean, but it says now

[1:28:57] This is up a leave the 15th budget that I recommend so using borrowed money for one-time expenses

[1:29:05] Things that can be capitalized or put on the balance sheet or are not strategies that we've avoided from a staff

[1:29:12] And that's just something that I wanted to get out to the public.

[1:29:15] This is not something that we're doing new this year.

[1:29:18] The manager has said he's done it for 15 years.

[1:29:21] I think in other municipalities and other counties do the same thing when they have their budget.

[1:29:26] And I just want to say that by the way, this whole board has worked well together.

[1:29:31] Everybody has been respectful and I certainly appreciate that.

[1:29:34] But I do want to say we've heard from our citizens.

[1:29:37] We know how hard it is out there for you.

[1:29:39] We know that your medical insurance is up.

[1:29:41] We know that your property insurance is up.

[1:29:43] We know that gas prices are up, we have groceries up.

[1:29:46] We know it's hard on you, and I can't help but believe that this part of the reason

[1:29:50] that our sales tax numbers are down, because folks are not out spending leisurely like

[1:29:55] they would in the past, and I would like to thank as well that our economy will get better.

[1:30:00] But, you know, the easy fix is to just say, well, raise your taxes. That's easy fix. The hard fix is to go back to the drawing board, which is what our staff and our commissioners have done to fully fund this budget.

[1:30:12] And I appreciate the creativeness and it took us working and some talking through and we've reached that balanced budget and funding all the schools and everything that's Commissioner Walker and the other commissioners have brought up without raising your taxes.

[1:30:28] We've even added additional money to our way of transit, and we've done a lot of things in this budget that I'm very grateful for, and I know it's easy to say just raise the taxes, but we are very fortunate that we live in New Handover County.

[1:30:42] New Handover County is a well off-counting, so we have reached in and we have creative budget and strategies, and that's why we've come up with this balanced budget without increasing your taxes.

[1:30:54] and we want to keep more money on the pockets of our citizens so that they can better their families and their communities.

[1:31:01] So I support the budget and in listeners any further comment, I will entertain a motion.

[1:31:07] Yes, Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to adopt the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget

[1:31:13] ordinance inclusive of all capital projects, all other economic development appropriations and opioid

[1:31:19] expenditures as recommended by staff to include $300,000 to the Community Justice Center,

[1:31:28] $150,000 to the Arts Council, New Head of Accounting and City of Wilmington, $30,000 to

[1:31:34] Bellian Hall, $30,000 to Legal Aid, $30,000 to Kate Fierre Habitat for Humanity, $25,000 to

[1:31:41] Alliance for Kate Fierre, $25,000 to Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, $20,000 for Cameron

[1:31:48] in our museum. I will note that this motion excludes the appropriation and award of a contract

[1:31:55] to the Fillian Hall Center for Performing Arts because of a state statute that requires

[1:32:01] us to exempt commissioners, Apple, who serves on that board from voting on that item,

[1:32:07] but otherwise that is my motion.

[1:32:09] Okay, and for the public, don't understand, we will look at Thelian Hall separately

[1:32:13] because we do have to recuse commissioners, Apple, from that vote because he's on the board.

[1:32:17] second to the motion. I have a motion on a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye.

[1:32:24] Those opposed? No. So that motion, our budget passes for in favor and want to pose Commissioner Walker in descent.

[1:32:34] Madam Chair, a second motion, would therefore be that we need to appropriate and minister a contract for an individual economic development appropriation with

[1:32:43] with Phelian Hall, and I do make that motion.

[1:32:49] Again, Mr. Zappel has been excluded from that motion because he's on the board.

[1:32:54] Do we need a separate vote to recuse Commissioner's Apple?

[1:32:57] I would recommend a motion to formally recuse Commissioner's Apple and then a vote on your underlying motion.

[1:33:04] All right, I first move that we excuse Commissioner's Apple and the basis of his board membership from the upcoming vote on Phelian Hall.

[1:33:12] Second, all the favor?

[1:33:14] All right.

[1:33:15] I again make my motion that we appropriate and minister or contract for individual economic

[1:33:20] development appropriation with the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts.

[1:33:26] Second, all the favor?

[1:33:29] All right.

[1:33:30] Is that that passage unanimously?

[1:33:34] So the great job staff, and we are through the budget season, it won't move on to focusing on our school

[1:33:41] on that. So, and Commissioner Zach will you are back in?

[1:33:47] Thank you, Madam Chair. Can we leave in to our committee appointment?

[1:33:53] The first one is locate your water and sewer.

[1:33:57] I'm sorry.

[1:33:58] Second, yeah.

[1:34:00] I'll have a favor.

[1:34:01] So, hold on that.

[1:34:03] Yes.

[1:34:04] Okay.

[1:34:04] I think we're going to.

[1:34:06] All right.

[1:34:07] Our next committee is new handover County Commission for Women.

[1:34:11] And I'm Chair, I'd like to nominate Chris Kleg, Tracy New Kirk for re-appointment and Jenny Thompson.

[1:34:19] All in favour?

[1:34:20] Hi.

[1:34:22] Ms. Clark, you got all that?

[1:34:24] Okay.

[1:34:25] New handover County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee.

[1:34:29] I'd like to nominate Sandra Cruz.

[1:34:34] Second.

[1:34:35] All in favour?

[1:34:36] All right.

[1:34:38] And the last one is the New Handover County Tourism Development Authority.

[1:34:42] And I would like to nominate Miss Megan Mullins as a representative for the

[1:34:47] Chamber of Commerce.

[1:34:49] Seconds.

[1:34:50] Seconds.

[1:34:52] I'm going to work with you, Megan.

[1:34:54] Okay, folks.

[1:34:56] We do not have any more public comment.

[1:34:59] Are there any additional items that anyone would like to discuss?

[1:35:02] I'll start on my right with the attorney.

[1:35:05] Maystras, do my right?

[1:35:07] No, no, I'm sorry.

[1:35:08] No, maestro, do my left?

[1:35:09] Yes, I'll just mention that I'm very pleased that we've put the work in in a respectful manner.

[1:35:15] We've arrived at a bipartisan budget.

[1:35:17] I think that's a real reflection of our commitment to getting it done.

[1:35:22] Everybody has to make compromises in a budget.

[1:35:24] But I think that we did that for the betterment of our citizens.

[1:35:27] And I'm very grateful to have completed successfully this latest budget cycle.

[1:35:32] Thank you, Madam Chair.

[1:35:34] And I'd like to say the same thing, I appreciate the way you all work together as a team with the staff and with the fellow commissioners and with our folks here and the representative in the room and those watching.

[1:35:46] So thank you so much anybody over there Mr. Manager.

[1:35:50] Madam Chair, not to belabor anything but thank you to the board for the guidance throughout the budget season.

[1:35:55] you gave the staff the clarity and the direction it needed.

[1:35:59] So thank you for telling us where to go and thank you to the Finance and Budget team for

[1:36:03] getting us where we are today.

[1:36:06] Yes.

[1:36:07] Commissioner, sir.

[1:36:08] Thank you.

[1:36:10] I just want to add on to that.

[1:36:13] Our Budget team, led by Amanda Kosuzia and Eric Cretel, I want to thank you so much for the work

[1:36:20] that you've put into it.

[1:36:21] And we've had multiple personal conversations.

[1:36:24] You've been incredibly patient with me over this period here

[1:36:27] and provided excellent numbers.

[1:36:31] And not once did you throw me out of your office.

[1:36:33] So that's really good.

[1:36:36] Thank you very much.

[1:36:37] I would like to second that also.

[1:36:39] And I know we're over this budget season,

[1:36:42] but the prepared is we're going to need you next year.

[1:36:45] Thank you, guys.

[1:36:46] Anybody else?

[1:36:47] Okay, it's made us adjourned.

[1:36:49] Thank you, Madam Chair.

May 18, 2026 Board of Commissioners

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