North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H58 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
	3	+	H 4
	4	+	HOUSE BILL 58
	5	+	Committee Substitute Favorable 3/4/25
	6	+	Senate Elections Committee Substitute Adopted 3/18/25
	7	+	Fourth Edition Engrossed 3/20/25
3	8
4		-	SESSION LAW 2025-3
5		-	HOUSE BILL 58
6		-
7		-
8		-	H58-v-6
9		-	AN ACT TO EXTEND THE TERMS OF THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE B OARD
10		-	OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE TOWN OF KITTREL L FROM TWO TO FOUR
11		-	YEARS; TO PROVIDE TH AT THE ASHEBORO CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
12		-	SHALL CONSIST OF SEVEN MEMBERS ELECTED O N A PARTISAN BASIS IN
13		-	EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS TO SE RVE FOUR-YEAR STAGGERED TERMS; TO
14		-	ESTABLISH RESIDENCY DISTRICTS FOR THE AN SON COUNTY BOARD OF
15		-	COMMISSIONERS; TO PROVIDE THAT VACANCIES ON THE CASWELL COUN TY
16		-	BOARD OF COMMISSIONE RS ARE FILLED IN ACC ORDANCE WITH
17		-	G.S. 153A-27.1; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE SCOTLAND COUNTY BOARD OF
18		-	COMMISSIONERS TO ADO PT A SCHOOL BUDGET I N ITS DISCRETION; TO
19		-	ELIMINATE THE MANDAT ORY SCHOOL FUNDING F LOOR; AND TO MAKE
20		-	CONFORMING CHANGES.
21		-
22		-	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
23		-
24		-	SECTION 1.(a) Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Kittrell, being Chapter 136
25		-	of the Private Laws of 1885, reads as rewritten:
26		-	"Sec. 3. That the officers of said town shall consist of a mayor, mayor and three
27		-	commissioners and a constable; commissioners, and the commissioners shall have power to
28		-	appoint a secretary and treasurer.clerk and finance officer. The mayor and three commissioners
29		-	shall be elected for four-year terms."
30		-	SECTION 1.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to
31		-	elections held on or after that date.
32		-	SECTION 2.1.(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 35 of the 1957 Session Laws, as
33		-	amended by Chapter 838 of the 1959 Session Laws, Chapter 172 of the 1969 Session Laws,
34		-	Chapter 310 of the 1973 Session Laws, and Chapter 81 of the 1985 Session Laws, two members
35		-	of the Asheboro City Board of Education shall be elected in 2025 on a nonpartisan plurality basis
36		-	with the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292 to serve a one-year term.
37		-	SECTION 2.1.(b) This section does not affect the term of office of any member
38		-	elected in 2025 to the Asheboro City Board of Education. Any vacancy on the Asheboro City
39		-	Board of Education for a member elected in 2025 shall be filled by appointment of the remaining
40		-	members of the Asheboro City Board of Education to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
41		-	Each member of the Asheboro City Board of Education elected in 2025, or any member
42		-	appointed to fill a vacancy for a member elected in 2025, shall serve until a successor has been
43		-	elected and qualified.
44		-	SECTION 2.2.(a) Section 2 of Chapter 35 of the 1957 Session Laws, as amended
45		-	by Chapter 838 of the 1959 Session Laws, Chapter 172 of the 1969 Session Laws, Chapter 310
46		-	of the 1973 Session Laws, and Chapter 81 of the 1985 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
47		-	"Sec. 2. (a) The Asheboro City Board of Education shall consist of 11 seven members
48		-	elected for six-year staggered four-year terms. Members shall be elected on a partisan basis. The
49		-	election shall be held at the same time as provided by general law for the municipal elections for
50		-	the City of Asheboro. At the election on November 6, 1973, four (4) members shall be elected
51		-	Page 2 Session Law 2025-3 House Bill 58
52		-	for six-year terms. At the election on November 4, 1975, three (3) members shall be elected for
53		-	six-year terms and at the election on November 8, 1977, four (4) members shall be elected for
54		-	six-year terms. Thereafter, biennially there shall be elected members of the board to fill those
55		-	vacancies created by expiration of the terms of office. of the general election in each
56		-	even-numbered year as terms expire. Candidates for election to the Asheboro City Board of
57		-	Education shall be nominated at the same time and manner as county officers. Members shall
58		-	take office on the first Monday in December following their election. The terms of all present
59		-	members are extended until the first Monday in December following the election of their
60		-	successors, or Members shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. The election
61		-	shall be held and conducted by the Randolph County Board of Elections under the same
62		-	applicable provisions of Articles 23 and 24 of Chapter Chapters 115C and 163 of the General
63		-	Statutes which are applicable to the election of municipal officers in the City of
64		-	Asheboro.Statutes.
65		-	(b) Any vacancy occurring by reason of death, resignation or otherwise than by expiration
66		-	of the term of office, on the Asheboro City Board of Education shall be filled for the unexpired
67		-	term by the appointment made by the remaining members of the board of education.in accordance
68		-	with G.S. 115C-37.1."
69		-	SECTION 2.2.(b) Sections 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Chapter 35 of the 1957 Session
70		-	Laws, as amended by Chapter 838 of the 1959 Session Laws, Chapter 172 of the 1969 Session
71		-	Laws, and Chapter 81 of the 1985 Session Laws, are repealed.
72		-	SECTION 2.2.(c) The terms of office for the four members serving on the effective
73		-	date of this section whose terms of office are set to expire in 2027 shall be extended by one year,
74		-	and the terms of office for the three members serving on the effective date of this section whose
75		-	terms are set to expire in 2029 shall be extended by one year. To maintain the staggering of terms,
76		-	members shall be elected as follows:
77		-	(1) In 2026, two members shall be elected to serve a four-year term.
78		-	(2) In 2028 and quadrennially thereafter, three members shall be elected to serve
79		-	a four-year term.
80		-	(3) In 2030 and quadrennially thereafter, four members shall be elected to serve
81		-	a four-year term.
82		-	SECTION 2.2.(d) Between the date of the 2028 general election and the first
83		-	Monday in December 2028, the Asheboro City Council shall appoint a registered voter residing
84		-	in the Asheboro City Board of Education School Administrative Unit district to serve on the
85		-	Asheboro City Board of Education to vote only in the case of a tie. The person so appointed shall
86		-	serve a term of office expiring the first Monday in December 2030. In the event of a vacancy in
87		-	the seat appointed under this subsection, the Asheboro City Council shall fill the vacancy for the
88		-	unexpired term.
89		-	SECTION 2.2.(e) G.S. 115C-37.1(d) reads as rewritten:
90		-	"(d) This section shall apply only to the Asheboro City Board of Education, the Hickory
91		-	City Board of Education and the Newton-Conover City Board of Education and in the following
92		-	counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Brunswick, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Catawba,
93		-	Cherokee, Clay, Craven, Dare, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Harnett, Henderson, Hyde, Iredell, Lee,
94		-	Lincoln, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Polk,
95		-	Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Vance, Washington, and Yancey."
96		-	SECTION 2.2.(f) This section does not affect the term of office of any member
97		-	elected in 2021 or 2023 to the Asheboro City Board of Education. Any vacancy on the Asheboro
98		-	City Board of Education for a member elected in 2021 or 2023 shall be filled by appointment of
99		-	the remaining members of the Asheboro City Board of Education to serve the remainder of the
100		-	unexpired term. Each member of the Asheboro City Board of Education elected in 2021 or 2023,
101		-	or any member appointed to fill a vacancy for a member elected in 2021 or 2023, shall serve until
102		-	a successor has been elected and qualified.
103		-	House Bill 58 Session Law 2025-3 Page 3
104		-	SECTION 2.2.(g) This section becomes effective the first Monday in December of
105		-	2026, and elections in 2026 and thereafter shall be conducted accordingly.
106		-	SECTION 3.(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 281 of the 1987 Session Laws, the Anson
107		-	County Board of Commissioners shall consist of seven members elected from seven
108		-	single-member residency districts. One member shall be elected from each residency district. No
109		-	person shall be eligible to file for or be elected to the Anson County Board of Commissioners
110		-	unless the person is a qualified voter and resident of the district in which that candidate seeks to
111		-	be elected. All candidates for election shall be voted on by all eligible voters in the county.
112		-	Members shall take office and qualify on the first Monday in December of the year of election,
113		-	and the terms of their predecessors shall expire at that same time. Members shall serve until a
114		-	successor has been elected and qualified.
115		-	SECTION 3.(b) Until revised in accordance with G.S. 153A-22.1, the residency
116		-	districts required by this section shall be the districts used in the 2022 elections for the Anson
117		-	County Board of Commissioners.
118		-	SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 153A-22.1(f), as enacted by Chapter 215 of the 1995 Session
119		-	Laws, and as rewritten by S.L. 1998-175, S.L. 2011-126, S.L. 2023-24, and S.L. 2023-30, reads
120		-	as rewritten:
121		-	"(f) This section applies to Henderson and Moore Johnston, Anson, Henderson, Johnston,
122		-	and Moore Counties only."
123		-	SECTION 3.(d) This section becomes effective the first Monday in December 2026,
124		-	and elections in 2026 and thereafter shall be conducted accordingly.
125		-	SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 153A-27.1(h) reads as rewritten:
126		-	"(h) This section shall apply only in the following counties: Alamance, Alexander,
127		-	Alleghany, Avery, Beaufort, Brunswick, Buncombe, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Cherokee,
128		-	Clay, Cleveland, Cumberland, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Guilford, Harnett,
129		-	Haywood, Henderson, Hyde, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg,
130		-	Moore, Onslow, Pender, Polk, Randolph, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes,
131		-	Transylvania, and Yancey."
132		-	SECTION 4.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to
133		-	vacancies filled on or after March 3, 2025. Any vacancy occurring on the Caswell County Board
134		-	of Commissioners on or after March 3, 2025, shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 153A-27.1.
135		-	SECTION 4.1. Chapter 707 of the 1963 Session Laws, as amended by S.L.
136		-	1973-306, 2002-66, 2004-203, and 2006-171, reads as rewritten:
137		-	"Section 1. The purposes of this Act, among others, are to provide an enabling Statute, in
138		-	addition to other Statutes which may be available for such purposes, for the merger of the
139		-	Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative
140		-	Unit.
141		-	"Sec. 2. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of
142		-	Education, by majority vote of the full membership of each of said Boards, may jointly petition
143		-	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners for a county-wide election on the following
144		-	subjects:
145		-	(a) The merger of the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland
146		-	County School Administrative Unit and their respective Boards of Education.
147		-	(b) The construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the
148		-	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, Laurinburg High School, and
149		-	Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds pursuant to the County Finance Act, as
150		-	amended, for construction of said consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an
151		-	amount to be determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the
152		-	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education.
153		-	(c) To require the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and the
154		-	Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from any local sources,
155		-	Page 4 Session Law 2025-3 House Bill 58
156		-	including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such funds as will provide, at a minimum,
157		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which shall be no less than the average
158		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined
159		-	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
160		-	(d) To authorize the County Commissioners to levy a county-wide supplemental school
161		-	tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one hundred dollar valuation.
162		-	"Sec. 3. Upon the receipt of such petition, it shall be the duty of the Scotland County Board
163		-	of Commissioners to call an election upon the foregoing subjects within sixty (60) days thereafter
164		-	and fix the date for the same. The provisions of this Act, relating to the merger of the Laurinburg
165		-	City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative Unit, shall be
166		-	contingent upon the approval, by a majority of the voters voting in a county-wide election, of all
167		-	the proposals as set out in subsections (a) through (d) of Section 2 of this Act. The said election
168		-	shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Statutes of North
169		-	Carolina.
170		-	"Sec. 4.(a) The Scotland County Board of Education shall be comprised of 8 members. Five
171		-	of the members shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township and 3 of the members shall be
172		-	residents of any of the remaining 3 townships in Scotland County at large.
173		-	(b) Beginning with a primary election to be held in 1974, 2 members who shall be
174		-	residents of the Stewartsville Township and 2 members, who shall be residents of the other 3
175		-	townships at large shall be elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education
176		-	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1978. Beginning with a primary election to be held in
177		-	1976, 3 members, who shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township, and 1 member, who shall
178		-	be a resident of any of the other 3 townships, shall be elected to membership on the said board
179		-	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1980. In 1978 when the initial terms of the first 4 members
180		-	expire and in the regular county-wide biennial election of that year and in each regular
181		-	county-wide biennial election thereafter, four members shall be elected for terms of four years
182		-	each.
183		-	(c) The initial election for the 4 year terms of the 2 Stewartsville Township members and
184		-	the 2 members at large shall be conducted according to the procedure set forth in subsections
185		-	(d)(1) and (2) which provide for the regular elections for these seats beginning in 1978 and the
186		-	initial election for the four-year terms of the other 3 Stewartsville Township members and the
187		-	other 1 member at large shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in
188		-	subsection (d)(3) and (4) which provides for regular elections for these seats on the board
189		-	beginning in 1980.
190		-	(d) The procedure for election of members to the Scotland County Board of Education
191		-	beginning in 1978 and every 2 years thereafter shall be as follows:
192		-	(1) At a primary election to be held in 1978 and every four years thereafter at the
193		-	same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 2 persons who
194		-	shall reside within the Stewartsville Township and 2 persons who shall reside
195		-	within any one of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be
196		-	elected for terms of 4 years each.
197		-	(2) (a) The 2 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest
198		-	number of votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose
199		-	names shall be placed upon the ballot at the general election and the 2
200		-	candidates at large from the other 3 Scotland County Townships who
201		-	shall receive the largest number of votes in the primary election shall
202		-	be the at large nominees whose names shall be placed upon the ballot
203		-	at the general election; provided however, that if 2 or fewer candidates
204		-	should file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township and if 2 or
205		-	fewer candidates should file for the nomination from the other 3
206		-	townships at large the names of such candidates shall be placed on the
207		-	House Bill 58 Session Law 2025-3 Page 5
208		-	ballot for the general election and there shall be no primary election
209		-	for the Stewartsville Township or for the 3 at large townships.
210		-	(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the
211		-	Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies
212		-	from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be
213		-	placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no
214		-	primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates
215		-	who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than
216		-	twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there
217		-	shall be placed on the ballot at the general election the four (twice the
218		-	number of vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes.
219		-	(c) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3
220		-	Scotland County Townships is twice or fewer than the number of
221		-	vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships the names of
222		-	such candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general election
223		-	and there shall be no primary election; provided further, that if the
224		-	number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3
225		-	Scotland County Townships is more than twice the number of
226		-	vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships there shall be
227		-	placed on the ballot at the general election the 4 (twice the number of
228		-	vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes.
229		-	(3) At a primary election to be held in 1980 and every 4 years thereafter at the
230		-	same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 3 persons who
231		-	shall reside within the Stewartville Township and 1 person who shall reside
232		-	within any 1 of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be
233		-	elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education for terms
234		-	of 4 years each.
235		-	(4) (a) The 3 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest
236		-	number of votes in the primary election and the 1 candidate from the
237		-	other 3 Scotland County Townships receiving the largest number of
238		-	votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose names shall
239		-	be placed upon the ballot at the general election; provided however,
240		-	that if 3 or fewer candidates should file for nomination from the
241		-	Stewartsville Township or no more than 1 candidate should file for
242		-	nomination from the other 3 townships at large the names of such
243		-	candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general election and
244		-	there shall be no primary election for the Stewartsville Township or
245		-	for Scotland County at large.
246		-	(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the
247		-	Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies
248		-	from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be
249		-	placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no
250		-	primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates
251		-	who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than
252		-	twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there
253		-	shall be placed on the ballot at the general election the 6 (twice the
254		-	number of vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes.
255		-	(c) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3
256		-	Scotland County Townships at large shall be twice or fewer than the
257		-	number of vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships the
258		-	names of such candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general
259		-	Page 6 Session Law 2025-3 House Bill 58
260		-	election and there shall be no primary election; provided further that if
261		-	the number of candidates who file for the nomination from the other 3
262		-	Scotland County Townships is more than twice the number of
263		-	vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships there shall be
264		-	placed on the ballot at the general election the 2 (twice the number of
265		-	vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes.
266		-	(e) Repealed by Section 6 of Session Law 2006-171.
267		-	(f) The Board of Education shall prepare a ballot for use in the primaries and general
268		-	elections which shall be separate from other ballots and on which shall be listed separately the
269		-	candidates from the Stewartsville Township and the candidates from the 3 other Scotland County
270		-	Townships at large. The names of the candidates shall be placed on a ballot separate from other
271		-	ballots, bearing no party designation, and no party affiliation need be indicated at the time of
272		-	filing. Except as herein provided, all primary elections and general elections shall be held,
273		-	conducted and supervised by the County Board of Elections under the laws and regulations
274		-	providing for the election of county officers.
275		-	(g) All candidates for membership on the Scotland County Board of Education shall file
276		-	a notice of such candidacy with the Board of Elections not later than 12:00 p.m. on the Monday
277		-	preceding the tenth Tuesday before the primary election is to be held and each candidate shall
278		-	pay a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) and in addition shall certify in writing whether he is filing
279		-	for the Stewartsville Township seat or the at-large seat, the township within which he resides and
280		-	that he is a bona fide resident thereof, said notice to be filed with the Scotland County Board of
281		-	Elections.
282		-	(h) All persons registered and qualified to vote in the general election shall be qualified
283		-	to vote in the primary. All qualified voters of Scotland County may vote in any primary or general
284		-	election held pursuant to this act and may vote for all candidates for the Board of Education
285		-	regardless of their residence in either the Stewartsville Township or the at-large townships.
286		-	(i) Any vacancies which may occur on the Scotland County Board of Education after the
287		-	election of the members of the Board in 1974 shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the
288		-	remaining members of the board for the unexpired term; provided that, if the seat which shall
289		-	become vacant is held by a resident of Stewartsville Township his successor shall likewise be a
290		-	resident of the Stewartsville Township and if the seat which shall become vacant is held by a
291		-	resident of the at-large townships his successor shall likewise be a resident of one of the at-large
292		-	townships.
293		-	(j) In the event no candidate is elected in the general election to fill any term which is
294		-	about to expire then and in that event the Scotland County Board of Education shall declare a
295		-	vacancy and such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with subsection (i).
296		-	"Sec. 5. The following provisions shall apply in the event of merger under the plan provided
297		-	for in this Act.
298		-	(a) The Consolidated Board shall be the County Board of Education in and for Scotland
299		-	County and shall have county-wide jurisdiction over the public school system in Scotland
300		-	County, including all municipalities located therein. The name of the Consolidated Board shall
301		-	be: Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education.The public school system of Scotland
302		-	County shall be known as and shall use the style of "Scotland County School System," and the
303		-	Board of Education shall be known as and shall use the style of "Scotland County Board of
304		-	Education."
305		-	(b) Repealed by Section 2 of Chapter 306 of the 1973 Session Laws.
306		-	(c) For the fiscal year beginning July 1 immediately following merging of the two Boards
307		-	of Education, if the Consolidated Board is not created in sufficient time to present its
308		-	supplemental tax budget and its capital outlay, debt service and current expense budgets within
309		-	the time prescribed by law for said fiscal year, then the members of the Scotland County Board
310		-	of Education and the members of the Laurinburg City Board of Education, acting jointly and by
311		-	House Bill 58 Session Law 2025-3 Page 7
312		-	a majority vote of all members present, shall determine the amount and contents of the
313		-	supplemental tax budget requested for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of that year, and shall give
314		-	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners due notice thereof in time to levy such taxes as
315		-	may be necessary to provide funds for said budget for that year, and the said two Boards of
316		-	Education, acting in like manner, shall prepare and submit to the said Board of Commissioners
317		-	the capital outlay, debt service, and current expense budgets for that fiscal year within the time
318		-	prescribed by law.
319		-	(d) Each year following the merging of the two Boards of Education, at the same time
320		-	the other school budgets are filed, the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education shall file
321		-	a supplemental tax budget which, when added to the regular budget, shall provide, at a minimum,
322		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which are no less than the average
323		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State as determined by
324		-	the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The said Board of
325		-	Commissioners shall approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in the minimum amount
326		-	provided for above and may approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in larger amounts,
327		-	and shall then provide the funds therefor from local funds.For fiscal year 2025-2026, the Scotland
328		-	County Board of Education shall submit to the Scotland County Board of Commissioners, at the
329		-	same time the other school budgets are filed, a budget request for operational and capital funding
330		-	in amounts that would provide an appropriate education to all students in Scotland County during
331		-	that fiscal year. In evaluating the request, the board of commissioners shall consider the
332		-	educational goals and policies of the State and the local board of education, the budgetary request
333		-	of the board of education, the financial resources of the county and the board of education, and
334		-	the fiscal policies of the board of county commissioners and the board of education. Based on
335		-	this evaluation, the board of commissioners shall determine, in its discretion, the amount of
336		-	county revenues, including any voted supplemental tax revenues, to be appropriated to the board
337		-	of education's local current expense fund and capital outlay fund for fiscal year 2025-2026.
338		-	Neither the board of education nor the board of commissioners may initiate a dispute resolution
339		-	process or file any legal action challenging the determination of funds to be appropriated by the
340		-	board of commissioners to the local current expense fund and capital outlay fund for fiscal year
341		-	2025-2026. Beginning with fiscal year 2026-2027 and each year thereafter, the preparation,
342		-	submission, and approval of a budget for the board of education shall be in accordance with
343		-	Article 31 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
344		-	(e) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education, as reorganized, shall
345		-	appoint a treasurer of all the school funds of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School
346		-	Administrative Unit. The treasurer so appointed shall continue to fill such position at the
347		-	discretion of the Board of Education. No person authorized to make the expenditures or draw
348		-	vouchers therefor, or to approve the same, shall act as treasurer of said funds. The treasurer shall
349		-	give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such amount as the Board of Education
350		-	may prescribe, but, in no event, for less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00). Except
351		-	as herein otherwise expressly provided, the treasurer shall perform duties prescribed by
352		-	applicable provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes of North Carolina and shall be
353		-	subject to all of such provisions of said Act. All sums appropriated by said Board of
354		-	Commissioners for capital outlay, current expense and to supplement the current expense fund
355		-	from State and county allotments shall be paid over to the Treasurer of the Laurinburg-Scotland
356		-	Scotland County Board of Education at reasonable periods after the receipt of said funds by the
357		-	Treasurer of Scotland County; provided, however, that the said Board of Commissioners shall
358		-	hold and administer the proceeds of school bond sales in accordance with the procedure now
359		-	being followed in holding and administering the proceeds of such sales.
360		-	(f) In addition to the election of a chairman in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
361		-	115 of the General Statutes, the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may
362		-	also select one of its members as vice-chairman who shall preside at all meetings of the Board in
363		-	Page 8 Session Law 2025-3 House Bill 58
364		-	the absence of the chairman, and whenever the Board shall have duly authorized the execution
365		-	of any contract, conveyance, or other instrument, the vice-chairman shall have the same authority
366		-	as the chairman to execute the same on behalf of the Board. In the event of absence or inability
367		-	of both the chairman and vice-chairman, the Board by resolution duly adopted and spread upon
368		-	the minutes of any meeting, may authorize any other member to execute any contract,
369		-	conveyance or instrument for and on behalf of the Board.
370		-	(g) The superintendent of schools shall be ex officio secretary of the Board as provided
371		-	by G. S. 115-36. The Board may elect an assistant secretary to serve at the pleasure of the Board.
372		-	The assistant secretary may be, but shall not be required to be, a member of the Board. Such
373		-	assistant secretary may perform the duties of the secretary of the Board when the secretary is
374		-	absent from any meeting or for any other reason is unable to perform his duties as secretary. The
375		-	assistant secretary shall have authority to attest all contracts, conveyances, and other instruments
376		-	which are required by law to be attested by the secretary. The secretary, or in his absence, the
377		-	assistant secretary, shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board and it shall be the duty of
378		-	such secretary or assistant secretary to furnish each member of the Board with a copy of the
379		-	minutes as soon after any meeting as may be reasonably practicable.
380		-	(h) In addition to the election of a superintendent of schools in the manner provided by
381		-	the general law, the Board may employ, upon recommendation of the superintendent, such
382		-	associate superintendents and assistant superintendents and such other administrative officers as
383		-	it may deem necessary and proper, fix their salaries' and prescribe their duties and powers. They
384		-	may be elected to serve at the pleasure of the Board or for such terms as may be fixed by the
385		-	Board, but the terms of any associate superintendents or assistant superintendents shall not
386		-	exceed the term for which the superintendent is employed. All principals, supervisory personnel,
387		-	and teachers shall be employed by the Board, upon recommendation of the superintendent. The
388		-	Board may delegate to the superintendent of schools or to one or more associate superintendents
389		-	or assistant superintendents or to other administrative officers, the authority to employ and
390		-	prescribe the duties of all other employees or classes of employees, including janitors and maids,
391		-	and to fix the compensation and the terms or periods for which they shall be employed, subject
392		-	to the approval of the Board of Education.
393		-	(i) A majority of the full membership of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board
394		-	of Education shall constitute a quorum.
395		-	(j) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may appoint an
396		-	advisory council for any school or for all the schools within the system. The purpose and function
397		-	of an advisory council shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board on matters affecting
398		-	the school or schools for which it is appointed. The organization, terms, composition and
399		-	regulations for the operation of such advisory council shall be determined by the Board. Article
400		-	7 of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes (School Committees) shall not apply to Scotland County.
401		-	The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School Administrative Unit shall constitute one
402		-	school unit.
403		-	(k) Title to all property of the Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland
404		-	County Board of Education, both real and personal, of every kind and description, shall be vested
405		-	in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education as of the effective date of
406		-	consolidation. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of
407		-	Education shall have full and ample authority to execute without consideration therefor or public
408		-	sale of the property involved, all such deeds and other instruments as may be deemed necessary
409		-	or proper to vest record title to any such property in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County
410		-	Board of Education.
411		-	(l) All claims and demands of every kind which the Laurinburg City Board of Education
412		-	or the Scotland County Board of Education may have as of the effective date of consolidation
413		-	shall pass and be transferred to the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education
414		-	and the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education shall have the same power
415		-	House Bill 58 Session Law 2025-3 Page 9
416		-	and authority to enforce said claims and demands as the Laurinburg City Board of Education or
417		-	the Scotland County Board of Education would have had in the event of its continued existence.
418		-	Any obligations or liabilities of the Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County
419		-	Board of Education existing as of the effective date of consolidation, shall be and become the
420		-	obligations and liabilities of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education and
421		-	such obligations and liabilities may be enforced against said Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland
422		-	County Board of Education to the same extent that they might have been enforced against the
423		-	Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County Board of Education had the said
424		-	Boards continued in existence.
425		-	(m) As of the effective date of consolidation, all provisions of the Charter of the City of
426		-	Laurinburg relating to public schools shall be deemed and are hereby repealed.
427		-	"Sec. 6. The provisions of this Act shall prevail over any inconsistent provisions of Chapter
428		-	115 Chapter 115C of the General Statutes of North Carolina and other general or special Acts.
429		-	"Sec. 7. The provisions in the preceding Sections of this Act shall be contingent upon the
430		-	following:
431		-	(a) Approval of the following by a majority of the voters voting in said election:
432		-	(1) Merger under the plan as set forth in this Act;
433		-	(2) Construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the
434		-	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School,
435		-	Laurinburg High School, and Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds
436		-	pursuant to the County Finance Act, as amended, for construction of said
437		-	consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an amount as
438		-	determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the
439		-	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education.
440		-	(3) Requiring the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and
441		-	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from
442		-	any local sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such
443		-	funds as will provide, at a minimum, current expense expenditures per student
444		-	from local funds which are no less than the average current expense
445		-	expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined
446		-	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
447		-	(4) Authorizing the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to levy a
448		-	county-wide supplemental school tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one
449		-	hundred dollar valuation.
450		-	(b) Petition by the Laurinburg City Board of Education to the Scotland County Board of
451		-	Education and the State Board of Education for merger of the Laurinburg City Administrative
452		-	School Unit and the Scotland County Administrative School Unit under this Act and Section
453		-	115-74 of the General Statutes of North Carolina within ninety (90) days after the announcement
454		-	of a favorable vote in such election. Said petition shall specify the effective date of merger.
455		-	(c) Approval of said merger by the Scotland County Board of Education.
456		-	(d) Approval of said merger by the State Board of Education.
457		-	"Sec. 8. If an election under this Act fails to carry on the subjects in Section 7 (a) (1) through
458		-	(4), or if no petition for consolidation is made under Section 7 (b), or if such petition is made but
459		-	not approved as required under Section 7 (c) and (d) of this Act, another election may be called,
460		-	for a vote on the subjects as outlined in Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) at any time after expiration
461		-	of six (6) months following the date of the next preceding election called and held under this Act.
462		-	"Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall operate to repeal any special school tax now provided for
463		-	by law for the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit or the Scotland County School
464		-	Administrative Unit unless a majority of the votes cast in said election authorizes the subjects in
465		-	Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) of this Act and until the merger of the units is effected.
466		-	Page 10 Session Law 2025-3 House Bill 58
467		-	"Sec. 9.1. For the 2002-2003 fiscal year only, current expense expenditures from local funds
468		-	for the Scotland County Schools shall be eight million seven hundred thousand dollars
469		-	($8,700,000) and said sum shall be appropriated by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners
470		-	from local funds, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines
471		-	and forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the
472		-	General Statutes.
473		-	"Sec. 9.2. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the base amount of funding for current
474		-	expense expenditures from local funds shall include the previous year's level of current expense
475		-	expenditures (for example, eight million seven hundred thousand dollars ($8,700,000) in
476		-	2002-2003), multiplied by one plus the average percentage change in local current expense
477		-	school expenditures for the two most recent available fiscal years for low-wealth counties in
478		-	North Carolina (all local expenditures shall include local current expense expenditures incurred
479		-	by charter schools within the appropriate districts), as determined by the Superintendent of Public
480		-	Instruction or that person's designee. The average percentage change shall be calculated by (i)
481		-	adding together for each of the two previous fiscal years the total current local expense
482		-	expenditures for all low-wealth counties, (ii) dividing each of those totals, respectively, by the
483		-	number of low-wealth counties receiving low-wealth funding in each year to obtain an average
484		-	low-wealth county local current expense expenditure for each year, and (iii) comparing the two
485		-	averages. The average percentage change shall equal the percent difference between the averages
486		-	for the two years. The resulting product shall then be multiplied by a ratio consisting of the
487		-	Average Daily Membership used to distribute State funding for the succeeding fiscal year as
488		-	provided by the Department of Public Instruction, divided by the Average Daily Membership
489		-	used to distribute funding for the current fiscal year, as determined by the Superintendent of
490		-	Public Instruction, or that person's designee. The resulting product shall be the required level of
491		-	current expense funding to be appropriated by the Board of Commissioners from any local
492		-	sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines and
493		-	forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the
494		-	General Statutes.
495		-	"Sec. 9.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act, the Scotland
496		-	County Board of Commissioners and the Scotland County Board of Education may, in
497		-	extraordinary economic circumstances, jointly set a level of current expense expenditures for a
498		-	fiscal year. This deviation from Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act shall be valid only if approved by
499		-	resolution of both boards.
500		-	"Sec. 10. The public school system of Scotland County shall be known as and shall use the
501		-	style of 'Scotland County School System' and the board of education shall be known as and shall
502		-	use the style of 'Scotland County Board of Education'.
503		-	"Sec. 11. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification."
504		-	SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes
505		-	law.
506		-	In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 27
507		-	th
508		-	day of March, 2025.
509		-
510		-
511		-	s/ Rachel Hunt
512		-	President of the Senate
513		-
514		-
515		-	s/ Wyatt Gable
516		-	Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives
	9	+	Short Title: Various Local Elections. (Local)
	10	+	Sponsors:
	11	+	Referred to:
	12	+	February 5, 2025
	13	+	H58-v-4
	14	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
	15	+	AN ACT TO EXTEND THE TERMS OF THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE B OARD 2
	16	+	OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE TOWN OF KITTREL L FROM TWO TO FOUR 3
	17	+	YEARS; TO PROVIDE TH AT THE ASHEBORO CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION 4
	18	+	SHALL CONSIST OF SEVEN MEMBERS ELECTED O N A PARTISAN BASIS IN 5
	19	+	EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS TO SERVE FOUR-YEAR STAGGERED TERMS; TO 6
	20	+	ESTABLISH RESIDENCY DISTRICTS FOR THE AN SON COUNTY BOARD OF 7
	21	+	COMMISSIONERS; TO PROVIDE THAT VACANCIES ON THE CASWELL COUN TY 8
	22	+	BOARD OF COMMISSIONE RS ARE FILLED IN ACC ORDANCE WITH 9
	23	+	G.S. 153A-27.1; AND TO AUTHORIZE T HE SCOTLAND COUNTY B OARD OF 10
	24	+	COMMISSIONERS TO ADO PT A SCHOOL BUDGET I N ITS DISCRETION; TO 11
	25	+	ELIMINATE THE MANDAT ORY SCHOOL FUNDING F LOOR; AND TO MAKE 12
	26	+	CONFORMING CHANGES. 13
	27	+	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
	28	+	SECTION 1.(a) Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Kittrell, being Chapter 136 15
	29	+	of the Private Laws of 1885, reads as rewritten: 16
	30	+	"Sec. 3. That the officers of said town shall consist of a mayor, mayor and three 17
	31	+	commissioners and a constable; commissioners, and the commissioners shall have power to 18
	32	+	appoint a secretary and treasurer.clerk and finance officer. The mayor and three commissioners 19
	33	+	shall be elected for four-year terms." 20
	34	+	SECTION 1.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 21
	35	+	elections held on or after that date. 22
	36	+	SECTION 2.1.(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 35 of the 1957 Session Laws, as 23
	37	+	amended by Chapter 838 of the 1959 Session Laws, Chapter 172 of the 1969 Session Laws, 24
	38	+	Chapter 310 of the 1973 Session Laws, and Chapter 81 of the 1985 Session Laws, two members 25
	39	+	of the Asheboro City Board of Education shall be elected in 2025 on a nonpartisan plurality basis 26
	40	+	with the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292 to serve a one-year term. 27
	41	+	SECTION 2.1.(b) This section does not affect the term of office of any member 28
	42	+	elected in 2025 to the Asheboro City Board of Education. Any vacancy on the Asheboro City 29
	43	+	Board of Education for a member elected in 2025 shall be filled by appointment of the remaining 30
	44	+	members of the Asheboro City Board of Education to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. 31
	45	+	Each member of the Asheboro City Board of Education elected in 2025, or any member 32
	46	+	appointed to fill a vacancy for a member elected in 2025, shall serve until a successor has been 33
	47	+	elected and qualified. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	48	+	Page 2 House Bill 58-Fourth Edition
	49	+	SECTION 2.2.(a) Section 2 of Chapter 35 of the 1957 Session Laws, as amended 1
	50	+	by Chapter 838 of the 1959 Session Laws, Chapter 172 of the 1969 Session Laws, Chapter 310 2
	51	+	of the 1973 Session Laws, and Chapter 81 of the 1985 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 3
	52	+	"Sec. 2. (a) The Asheboro City Board of Education shall consist of 11 seven members 4
	53	+	elected for six-year staggered four-year terms. Members shall be elected on a partisan basis. The 5
	54	+	election shall be held at the same time as provided by general law for the municipal elections for 6
	55	+	the City of Asheboro. At the election on November 6, 1973, four (4) members shall be elected 7
	56	+	for six-year terms. At the election on November 4, 1975, three (3) members shall be elected for 8
	57	+	six-year terms and at the election on November 8, 1977, four (4) members shall be elected for 9
	58	+	six-year terms. Thereafter, biennially there shall be elected members of the board to fill those 10
	59	+	vacancies created by expiration of the terms of office. of the general election in each 11
	60	+	even-numbered year as terms expire. Candidates for election to the Asheboro City Board of 12
	61	+	Education shall be nominated at the same time and manner as county officers. Members shall 13
	62	+	take office on the first Monday in December following their election. The terms of all present 14
	63	+	members are extended until the first Monday in December following the election of their 15
	64	+	successors, or Members shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. The election 16
	65	+	shall be held and conducted by the Randolph County Board of Elections under the same 17
	66	+	applicable provisions of Articles 23 and 24 of Chapter Chapters 115C and 163 of the General 18
	67	+	Statutes which are applicable to the election of municipal officers in the City of 19
	68	+	Asheboro.Statutes. 20
	69	+	(b) Any vacancy occurring by reason of death, resignation or otherwise than by expiration 21
	70	+	of the term of office, on the Asheboro City Board of Education shall be filled for the unexpired 22
	71	+	term by the appointment made by the remaining members of the board of education.in accordance 23
	72	+	with G.S. 115C-37.1." 24
	73	+	SECTION 2.2.(b) Sections 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Chapter 35 of the 1957 Session 25
	74	+	Laws, as amended by Chapter 838 of the 1959 Session Laws, Chapter 172 of the 1969 Session 26
	75	+	Laws, and Chapter 81 of the 1985 Session Laws, are repealed. 27
	76	+	SECTION 2.2.(c) The terms of office for the four members serving on the effective 28
	77	+	date of this section whose terms of office are set to expire in 2027 shall be extended by one year, 29
	78	+	and the terms of office for the three members serving on the effective date of this section whose 30
	79	+	terms are set to expire in 2029 shall be extended by one year. To maintain the staggering of terms, 31
	80	+	members shall be elected as follows: 32
	81	+	(1) In 2026, two members shall be elected to serve a four-year term. 33
	82	+	(2) In 2028 and quadrennially thereafter, three members shall be elected to serve 34
	83	+	a four-year term. 35
	84	+	(3) In 2030 and quadrennially thereafter, four members shall be elected to serve 36
	85	+	a four-year term. 37
	86	+	SECTION 2.2.(d) Between the date of the 2028 general election and the first 38
	87	+	Monday in December 2028, the Asheboro City Council shall appoint a registered voter residing 39
	88	+	in the Asheboro City Board of Education School Administrative Unit district to serve on the 40
	89	+	Asheboro City Board of Education to vote only in the case of a tie. The person so appointed shall 41
	90	+	serve a term of office expiring the first Monday in December 2030. In the event of a vacancy in 42
	91	+	the seat appointed under this subsection, the Asheboro City Council shall fill the vacancy for the 43
	92	+	unexpired term. 44
	93	+	SECTION 2.2.(e) G.S. 115C-37.1(d) reads as rewritten: 45
	94	+	"(d) This section shall apply only to the Asheboro City Board of Education, the Hickory 46
	95	+	City Board of Education and the Newton-Conover City Board of Education and in the following 47
	96	+	counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Brunswick, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Catawba, 48
	97	+	Cherokee, Clay, Craven, Dare, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Harnett, Henderson, Hyde, Iredell, Lee, 49
	98	+	Lincoln, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Polk, 50
	99	+	Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Vance, Washington, and Yancey." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	100	+	House Bill 58-Fourth Edition Page 3
	101	+	SECTION 2.2.(f) This section does not affect the term of office of any member 1
	102	+	elected in 2021 or 2023 to the Asheboro City Board of Education. Any vacancy on the Asheboro 2
	103	+	City Board of Education for a member elected in 2021 or 2023 shall be filled by appointment of 3
	104	+	the remaining members of the Asheboro City Board of Education to serve the remainder of the 4
	105	+	unexpired term. Each member of the Asheboro City Board of Education elected in 2021 or 2023, 5
	106	+	or any member appointed to fill a vacancy for a member elected in 2021 or 2023, shall serve until 6
	107	+	a successor has been elected and qualified. 7
	108	+	SECTION 2.2.(g) This section becomes effective the first Monday in December of 8
	109	+	2026, and elections in 2026 and thereafter shall be conducted accordingly. 9
	110	+	SECTION 3.(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 281 of the 1987 Session Laws, the Anson 10
	111	+	County Board of Commissioners shall consist of seven members elected from seven 11
	112	+	single-member residency districts. One member shall be elected from each residency district. No 12
	113	+	person shall be eligible to file for or be elected to the Anson County Board of Commissioners 13
	114	+	unless the person is a qualified voter and resident of the district in which that candidate seeks to 14
	115	+	be elected. All candidates for election shall be voted on by all eligible voters in the county. 15
	116	+	Members shall take office and qualify on the first Monday in December of the year of election, 16
	117	+	and the terms of their predecessors shall expire at that same time. Members shall serve until a 17
	118	+	successor has been elected and qualified. 18
	119	+	SECTION 3.(b) Until revised in accordance with G.S. 153A-22.1, the residency 19
	120	+	districts required by this section shall be the districts used in the 2022 elections for the Anson 20
	121	+	County Board of Commissioners. 21
	122	+	SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 153A-22.1(f), as enacted by Chapter 215 of the 1995 Session 22
	123	+	Laws, and as rewritten by S.L. 1998-175, S.L. 2011-126, S.L. 2023-24, and S.L. 2023-30, reads 23
	124	+	as rewritten: 24
	125	+	"(f) This section applies to Henderson and Moore Johnston, Anson, Henderson, Johnston, 25
	126	+	and Moore Counties only." 26
	127	+	SECTION 3.(d) This section becomes effective the first Monday in December 2026, 27
	128	+	and elections in 2026 and thereafter shall be conducted accordingly. 28
	129	+	SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 153A-27.1(h) reads as rewritten: 29
	130	+	"(h) This section shall apply only in the following counties: Alamance, Alexander, 30
	131	+	Alleghany, Avery, Beaufort, Brunswick, Buncombe, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Cherokee, 31
	132	+	Clay, Cleveland, Cumberland, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Guilford, Harnett, 32
	133	+	Haywood, Henderson, Hyde, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, 33
	134	+	Moore, Onslow, Pender, Polk, Randolph, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes, 34
	135	+	Transylvania, and Yancey." 35
	136	+	SECTION 4.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 36
	137	+	vacancies filled on or after March 3, 2025. Any vacancy occurring on the Caswell County Board 37
	138	+	of Commissioners on or after March 3, 2025, shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 153A-27.1. 38
	139	+	SECTION 4.1. Chapter 707 of the 1963 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 39
	140	+	1973-306, 2002-66, 2004-203, and 2006-171, reads as rewritten: 40
	141	+	"Section 1. The purposes of this Act, among others, are to provide an enabling Statute, in 41
	142	+	addition to other Statutes which may be available for such purposes, for the merger of the 42
	143	+	Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative 43
	144	+	Unit. 44
	145	+	"Sec. 2. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of 45
	146	+	Education, by majority vote of the full membership of each of said Boards, may jointly petition 46
	147	+	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners for a county-wide election on the following 47
	148	+	subjects: 48
	149	+	(a) The merger of the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland 49
	150	+	County School Administrative Unit and their respective Boards of Education. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	151	+	Page 4 House Bill 58-Fourth Edition
	152	+	(b) The construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the 1
	153	+	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, Laurinburg High School, and 2
	154	+	Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds pursuant to the County Finance Act, as 3
	155	+	amended, for construction of said consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an 4
	156	+	amount to be determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the 5
	157	+	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education. 6
	158	+	(c) To require the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and the 7
	159	+	Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from any local sources, 8
	160	+	including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such funds as will provide, at a minimum, 9
	161	+	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which shall be no less than the average 10
	162	+	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined 11
	163	+	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 12
	164	+	(d) To authorize the County Commissioners to levy a county-wide supplemental school 13
	165	+	tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one hundred dollar valuation. 14
	166	+	"Sec. 3. Upon the receipt of such petition, it shall be the duty of the Scotland County Board 15
	167	+	of Commissioners to call an election upon the foregoing subjects within sixty (60) days thereafter 16
	168	+	and fix the date for the same. The provisions of this Act, relating to the merger of the Laurinburg 17
	169	+	City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative Unit, shall be 18
	170	+	contingent upon the approval, by a majority of the voters voting in a county-wide election, of all 19
	171	+	the proposals as set out in subsections (a) through (d) of Section 2 of this Act. The said election 20
	172	+	shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Statutes of North 21
	173	+	Carolina. 22
	174	+	"Sec. 4.(a) The Scotland County Board of Education shall be comprised of 8 members. Five 23
	175	+	of the members shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township and 3 of the members shall be 24
	176	+	residents of any of the remaining 3 townships in Scotland County at large. 25
	177	+	(b) Beginning with a primary election to be held in 1974, 2 members who shall be 26
	178	+	residents of the Stewartsville Township and 2 members, who shall be residents of the other 3 27
	179	+	townships at large shall be elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education 28
	180	+	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1978. Beginning with a primary election to be held in 29
	181	+	1976, 3 members, who shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township, and 1 member, who shall 30
	182	+	be a resident of any of the other 3 townships, shall be elected to membership on the said board 31
	183	+	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1980. In 1978 when the initial terms of the first 4 members 32
	184	+	expire and in the regular county-wide biennial election of that year and in each regular 33
	185	+	county-wide biennial election thereafter, four members shall be elected for terms of four years 34
	186	+	each. 35
	187	+	(c) The initial election for the 4 year terms of the 2 Stewartsville Township members and 36
	188	+	the 2 members at large shall be conducted according to the procedure set forth in subsections 37
	189	+	(d)(1) and (2) which provide for the regular elections for these seats beginning in 1978 and the 38
	190	+	initial election for the four-year terms of the other 3 Stewartsville Township members and the 39
	191	+	other 1 member at large shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 40
	192	+	subsection (d)(3) and (4) which provides for regular elections for these seats on the board 41
	193	+	beginning in 1980. 42
	194	+	(d) The procedure for election of members to the Scotland County Board of Education 43
	195	+	beginning in 1978 and every 2 years thereafter shall be as follows: 44
	196	+	(1) At a primary election to be held in 1978 and every four years thereafter at the 45
	197	+	same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 2 persons who 46
	198	+	shall reside within the Stewartsville Township and 2 persons who shall reside 47
	199	+	within any one of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be 48
	200	+	elected for terms of 4 years each. 49
	201	+	(2) (a) The 2 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest 50
	202	+	number of votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	203	+	House Bill 58-Fourth Edition Page 5
	204	+	names shall be placed upon the ballot at the general election and the 2 1
	205	+	candidates at large from the other 3 Scotland County Townships who 2
	206	+	shall receive the largest number of votes in the primary election shall 3
	207	+	be the at large nominees whose names shall be placed upon the ballot 4
	208	+	at the general election; provided however, that if 2 or fewer candidates 5
	209	+	should file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township and if 2 or 6
	210	+	fewer candidates should file for the nomination from the other 3 7
	211	+	townships at large the names of such candidates shall be placed on the 8
	212	+	ballot for the general election and there shall be no primary election 9
	213	+	for the Stewartsville Township or for the 3 at large townships. 10
	214	+	(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the 11
	215	+	Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies 12
	216	+	from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be 13
	217	+	placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no 14
	218	+	primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates 15
	219	+	who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than 16
	220	+	twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there 17
	221	+	shall be placed on the ballot at the general election the four (twice the 18
	222	+	number of vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 19
	223	+	(c) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3 20
	224	+	Scotland County Townships is twice or fewer than the number of 21
	225	+	vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships the names of 22
	226	+	such candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general election 23
	227	+	and there shall be no primary election; provided further, that if the 24
	228	+	number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3 25
	229	+	Scotland County Townships is more than twice the number of 26
	230	+	vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships there shall be 27
	231	+	placed on the ballot at the general election the 4 (twice the number of 28
	232	+	vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 29
	233	+	(3) At a primary election to be held in 1980 and every 4 years thereafter at the 30
	234	+	same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 3 persons who 31
	235	+	shall reside within the Stewartville Township and 1 person who shall reside 32
	236	+	within any 1 of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be 33
	237	+	elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education for terms 34
	238	+	of 4 years each. 35
	239	+	(4) (a) The 3 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest 36
	240	+	number of votes in the primary election and the 1 candidate from the 37
	241	+	other 3 Scotland County Townships receiving the largest number of 38
	242	+	votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose names shall 39
	243	+	be placed upon the ballot at the general election; provided however, 40
	244	+	that if 3 or fewer candidates should file for nomination from the 41
	245	+	Stewartsville Township or no more than 1 candidate should file for 42
	246	+	nomination from the other 3 townships at large the names of such 43
	247	+	candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general election and 44
	248	+	there shall be no primary election for the Stewartsville Township or 45
	249	+	for Scotland County at large. 46
	250	+	(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the 47
	251	+	Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies 48
	252	+	from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be 49
	253	+	placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no 50
	254	+	primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	255	+	Page 6 House Bill 58-Fourth Edition
	256	+	who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than 1
	257	+	twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there 2
	258	+	shall be placed on the ballot at the general election the 6 (twice the 3
	259	+	number of vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 4
	260	+	(c) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3 5
	261	+	Scotland County Townships at large shall be twice or fewer than the 6
	262	+	number of vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships the 7
	263	+	names of such candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general 8
	264	+	election and there shall be no primary election; provided further that if 9
	265	+	the number of candidates who file for the nomination from the other 3 10
	266	+	Scotland County Townships is more than twice the number of 11
	267	+	vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships there shall be 12
	268	+	placed on the ballot at the general election the 2 (twice the number of 13
	269	+	vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 14
	270	+	(e) Repealed by Section 6 of Session Law 2006-171. 15
	271	+	(f) The Board of Education shall prepare a ballot for use in the primaries and general 16
	272	+	elections which shall be separate from other ballots and on which shall be listed separately the 17
	273	+	candidates from the Stewartsville Township and the candidates from the 3 other Scotland County 18
	274	+	Townships at large. The names of the candidates shall be placed on a ballot separate from other 19
	275	+	ballots, bearing no party designation, and no party affiliation need be indicated at the time of 20
	276	+	filing. Except as herein provided, all primary elections and general elections shall be held, 21
	277	+	conducted and supervised by the County Board of Elections under the laws and regulations 22
	278	+	providing for the election of county officers. 23
	279	+	(g) All candidates for membership on the Scotland County Board of Education shall file 24
	280	+	a notice of such candidacy with the Board of Elections not later than 12:00 p.m. on the Monday 25
	281	+	preceding the tenth Tuesday before the primary election is to be held and each candidate shall 26
	282	+	pay a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) and in addition shall certify in writing whether he is filing 27
	283	+	for the Stewartsville Township seat or the at-large seat, the township within which he resides and 28
	284	+	that he is a bona fide resident thereof, said notice to be filed with the Scotland County Board of 29
	285	+	Elections. 30
	286	+	(h) All persons registered and qualified to vote in the general election shall be qualified 31
	287	+	to vote in the primary. All qualified voters of Scotland County may vote in any primary or general 32
	288	+	election held pursuant to this act and may vote for all candidates for the Board of Education 33
	289	+	regardless of their residence in either the Stewartsville Township or the at-large townships. 34
	290	+	(i) Any vacancies which may occur on the Scotland County Board of Education after the 35
	291	+	election of the members of the Board in 1974 shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the 36
	292	+	remaining members of the board for the unexpired term; provided that, if the seat which shall 37
	293	+	become vacant is held by a resident of Stewartsville Township his successor shall likewise be a 38
	294	+	resident of the Stewartsville Township and if the seat which shall become vacant is held by a 39
	295	+	resident of the at-large townships his successor shall likewise be a resident of one of the at-large 40
	296	+	townships. 41
	297	+	(j) In the event no candidate is elected in the general election to fill any term which is 42
	298	+	about to expire then and in that event the Scotland County Board of Education shall declare a 43
	299	+	vacancy and such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with subsection (i). 44
	300	+	"Sec. 5. The following provisions shall apply in the event of merger under the plan provided 45
	301	+	for in this Act. 46
	302	+	(a) The Consolidated Board shall be the County Board of Education in and for Scotland 47
	303	+	County and shall have county-wide jurisdiction over the public school system in Scotland 48
	304	+	County, including all municipalities located therein. The name of the Consolidated Board shall 49
	305	+	be: Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education.The public school system of Scotland 50
	306	+	County shall be known as and shall use the style of "Scotland County School System," and the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	307	+	House Bill 58-Fourth Edition Page 7
	308	+	Board of Education shall be known as and shall use the style of "Scotland County Board of 1
	309	+	Education." 2
	310	+	(b) Repealed by Section 2 of Chapter 306 of the 1973 Session Laws. 3
	311	+	(c) For the fiscal year beginning July 1 immediately following merging of the two Boards 4
	312	+	of Education, if the Consolidated Board is not created in sufficient time to present its 5
	313	+	supplemental tax budget and its capital outlay, debt service and current expense budgets within 6
	314	+	the time prescribed by law for said fiscal year, then the members of the Scotland County Board 7
	315	+	of Education and the members of the Laurinburg City Board of Education, acting jointly and by 8
	316	+	a majority vote of all members present, shall determine the amount and contents of the 9
	317	+	supplemental tax budget requested for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of that year, and shall give 10
	318	+	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners due notice thereof in time to levy such taxes as 11
	319	+	may be necessary to provide funds for said budget for that year, and the said two Boards of 12
	320	+	Education, acting in like manner, shall prepare and submit to the said Board of Commissioners 13
	321	+	the capital outlay, debt service, and current expense budgets for that fiscal year within the time 14
	322	+	prescribed by law. 15
	323	+	(d) Each year following the merging of the two Boards of Education, at the same time 16
	324	+	the other school budgets are filed, the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education shall file 17
	325	+	a supplemental tax budget which, when added to the regular budget, shall provide, at a minimum, 18
	326	+	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which are no less than the average 19
	327	+	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State as determined by 20
	328	+	the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The said Board of 21
	329	+	Commissioners shall approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in the minimum amount 22
	330	+	provided for above and may approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in larger amounts, 23
	331	+	and shall then provide the funds therefor from local funds.For fiscal year 2025-2026, the Scotland 24
	332	+	County Board of Education shall submit to the Scotland County Board of Commissioners, at the 25
	333	+	same time the other school budgets are filed, a budget request for operational and capital funding 26
	334	+	in amounts that would provide an appropriate education to all students in Scotland County during 27
	335	+	that fiscal year. In evaluating the request, the board of commissioners shall consider the 28
	336	+	educational goals and policies of the State and the local board of education, the budgetary request 29
	337	+	of the board of education, the financial resources of the county and the board of education, and 30
	338	+	the fiscal policies of the board of county commissioners and the board of education. Based on 31
	339	+	this evaluation, the board of commissioners shall determine, in its discretion, the amount of 32
	340	+	county revenues, including any voted supplemental tax revenues, to be appropriated to the board 33
	341	+	of education's local current expense fund and capital outlay fund for fiscal year 2025-2026. 34
	342	+	Neither the board of education nor the board of commissioners may initiate a dispute resolution 35
	343	+	process or file any legal action challenging the determination of funds to be appropriated by the 36
	344	+	board of commissioners to the local current expense fund and capital outlay fund for fiscal year 37
	345	+	2025-2026. Beginning with fiscal year 2026-2027 and each year thereafter, the preparation, 38
	346	+	submission, and approval of a budget for the board of education shall be in accordance with 39
	347	+	Article 31 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes. 40
	348	+	(e) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education, as reorganized, shall 41
	349	+	appoint a treasurer of all the school funds of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School 42
	350	+	Administrative Unit. The treasurer so appointed shall continue to fill such position at the 43
	351	+	discretion of the Board of Education. No person authorized to make the expenditures or draw 44
	352	+	vouchers therefor, or to approve the same, shall act as treasurer of said funds. The treasurer shall 45
	353	+	give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such amount as the Board of Education 46
	354	+	may prescribe, but, in no event, for less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00). Except 47
	355	+	as herein otherwise expressly provided, the treasurer shall perform duties prescribed by 48
	356	+	applicable provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes of North Carolina and shall be 49
	357	+	subject to all of such provisions of said Act. All sums appropriated by said Board of 50
	358	+	Commissioners for capital outlay, current expense and to supplement the current expense fund 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	359	+	Page 8 House Bill 58-Fourth Edition
	360	+	from State and county allotments shall be paid over to the Treasurer of the Laurinburg-Scotland 1
	361	+	Scotland County Board of Education at reasonable periods after the receipt of said funds by the 2
	362	+	Treasurer of Scotland County; provided, however, that the said Board of Commissioners shall 3
	363	+	hold and administer the proceeds of school bond sales in accordance with the procedure now 4
	364	+	being followed in holding and administering the proceeds of such sales. 5
	365	+	(f) In addition to the election of a chairman in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6
	366	+	115 of the General Statutes, the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may 7
	367	+	also select one of its members as vice-chairman who shall preside at all meetings of the Board in 8
	368	+	the absence of the chairman, and whenever the Board shall have duly authorized the execution 9
	369	+	of any contract, conveyance, or other instrument, the vice-chairman shall have the same authority 10
	370	+	as the chairman to execute the same on behalf of the Board. In the event of absence or inability 11
	371	+	of both the chairman and vice-chairman, the Board by resolution duly adopted and spread upon 12
	372	+	the minutes of any meeting, may authorize any other member to execute any contract, 13
	373	+	conveyance or instrument for and on behalf of the Board. 14
	374	+	(g) The superintendent of schools shall be ex officio secretary of the Board as provided 15
	375	+	by G. S. 115-36. The Board may elect an assistant secretary to serve at the pleasure of the Board. 16
	376	+	The assistant secretary may be, but shall not be required to be, a member of the Board. Such 17
	377	+	assistant secretary may perform the duties of the secretary of the Board when the secretary is 18
	378	+	absent from any meeting or for any other reason is unable to perform his duties as secretary. The 19
	379	+	assistant secretary shall have authority to attest all contracts, conveyances, and other instruments 20
	380	+	which are required by law to be attested by the secretary. The secretary, or in his absence, the 21
	381	+	assistant secretary, shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board and it shall be the duty of 22
	382	+	such secretary or assistant secretary to furnish each member of the Board with a copy of the 23
	383	+	minutes as soon after any meeting as may be reasonably practicable. 24
	384	+	(h) In addition to the election of a superintendent of schools in the manner provided by 25
	385	+	the general law, the Board may employ, upon recommendation of the superintendent, such 26
	386	+	associate superintendents and assistant superintendents and such other administrative officers as 27
	387	+	it may deem necessary and proper, fix their salaries' and prescribe their duties and powers. They 28
	388	+	may be elected to serve at the pleasure of the Board or for such terms as may be fixed by the 29
	389	+	Board, but the terms of any associate superintendents or assistant superintendents shall not 30
	390	+	exceed the term for which the superintendent is employed. All principals, supervisory personnel, 31
	391	+	and teachers shall be employed by the Board, upon recommendation of the superintendent. The 32
	392	+	Board may delegate to the superintendent of schools or to one or more associate superintendents 33
	393	+	or assistant superintendents or to other administrative officers, the authority to employ and 34
	394	+	prescribe the duties of all other employees or classes of employees, including janitors and maids, 35
	395	+	and to fix the compensation and the terms or periods for which they shall be employed, subject 36
	396	+	to the approval of the Board of Education. 37
	397	+	(i) A majority of the full membership of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board 38
	398	+	of Education shall constitute a quorum. 39
	399	+	(j) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may appoint an 40
	400	+	advisory council for any school or for all the schools within the system. The purpose and function 41
	401	+	of an advisory council shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board on matters affecting 42
	402	+	the school or schools for which it is appointed. The organization, terms, composition and 43
	403	+	regulations for the operation of such advisory council shall be determined by the Board. Article 44
	404	+	7 of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes (School Committees) shall not apply to Scotland County. 45
	405	+	The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School Administrative Unit shall constitute one 46
	406	+	school unit. 47
	407	+	(k) Title to all property of the Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland 48
	408	+	County Board of Education, both real and personal, of every kind and description, shall be vested 49
	409	+	in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education as of the effective date of 50
	410	+	consolidation. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	411	+	House Bill 58-Fourth Edition Page 9
	412	+	Education shall have full and ample authority to execute without consideration therefor or public 1
	413	+	sale of the property involved, all such deeds and other instruments as may be deemed necessary 2
	414	+	or proper to vest record title to any such property in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County 3
	415	+	Board of Education. 4
	416	+	(l) All claims and demands of every kind which the Laurinburg City Board of Education 5
	417	+	or the Scotland County Board of Education may have as of the effective date of consolidation 6
	418	+	shall pass and be transferred to the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education 7
	419	+	and the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education shall have the same power 8
	420	+	and authority to enforce said claims and demands as the Laurinburg City Board of Education or 9
	421	+	the Scotland County Board of Education would have had in the event of its continued existence. 10
	422	+	Any obligations or liabilities of the Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County 11
	423	+	Board of Education existing as of the effective date of consolidation, shall be and become the 12
	424	+	obligations and liabilities of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education and 13
	425	+	such obligations and liabilities may be enforced against said Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland 14
	426	+	County Board of Education to the same extent that they might have been enforced against the 15
	427	+	Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County Board of Education had the said 16
	428	+	Boards continued in existence. 17
	429	+	(m) As of the effective date of consolidation, all provisions of the Charter of the City of 18
	430	+	Laurinburg relating to public schools shall be deemed and are hereby repealed. 19
	431	+	"Sec. 6. The provisions of this Act shall prevail over any inconsistent provisions of Chapter 20
	432	+	115 Chapter 115C of the General Statutes of North Carolina and other general or special Acts. 21
	433	+	"Sec. 7. The provisions in the preceding Sections of this Act shall be contingent upon the 22
	434	+	following: 23
	435	+	(a) Approval of the following by a majority of the voters voting in said election: 24
	436	+	(1) Merger under the plan as set forth in this Act; 25
	437	+	(2) Construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the 26
	438	+	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, 27
	439	+	Laurinburg High School, and Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds 28
	440	+	pursuant to the County Finance Act, as amended, for construction of said 29
	441	+	consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an amount as 30
	442	+	determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the 31
	443	+	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education. 32
	444	+	(3) Requiring the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and 33
	445	+	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from 34
	446	+	any local sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such 35
	447	+	funds as will provide, at a minimum, current expense expenditures per student 36
	448	+	from local funds which are no less than the average current expense 37
	449	+	expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined 38
	450	+	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 39
	451	+	(4) Authorizing the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to levy a 40
	452	+	county-wide supplemental school tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one 41
	453	+	hundred dollar valuation. 42
	454	+	(b) Petition by the Laurinburg City Board of Education to the Scotland County Board of 43
	455	+	Education and the State Board of Education for merger of the Laurinburg City Administrative 44
	456	+	School Unit and the Scotland County Administrative School Unit under this Act and Section 45
	457	+	115-74 of the General Statutes of North Carolina within ninety (90) days after the announcement 46
	458	+	of a favorable vote in such election. Said petition shall specify the effective date of merger. 47
	459	+	(c) Approval of said merger by the Scotland County Board of Education. 48
	460	+	(d) Approval of said merger by the State Board of Education. 49
	461	+	"Sec. 8. If an election under this Act fails to carry on the subjects in Section 7 (a) (1) through 50
	462	+	(4), or if no petition for consolidation is made under Section 7 (b), or if such petition is made but 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	463	+	Page 10 House Bill 58-Fourth Edition
	464	+	not approved as required under Section 7 (c) and (d) of this Act, another election may be called, 1
	465	+	for a vote on the subjects as outlined in Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) at any time after expiration 2
	466	+	of six (6) months following the date of the next preceding election called and held under this Act. 3
	467	+	"Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall operate to repeal any special school tax now provided for 4
	468	+	by law for the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit or the Scotland County School 5
	469	+	Administrative Unit unless a majority of the votes cast in said election authorizes the subjects in 6
	470	+	Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) of this Act and until the merger of the units is effected. 7
	471	+	"Sec. 9.1. For the 2002-2003 fiscal year only, current expense expenditures from local funds 8
	472	+	for the Scotland County Schools shall be eight million seven hundred thousand dollars 9
	473	+	($8,700,000) and said sum shall be appropriated by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners 10
	474	+	from local funds, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines 11
	475	+	and forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the 12
	476	+	General Statutes. 13
	477	+	"Sec. 9.2. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the base amount of funding for current 14
	478	+	expense expenditures from local funds shall include the previous year's level of current expense 15
	479	+	expenditures (for example, eight million seven hundred thousand dollars ($8,700,000) in 16
	480	+	2002-2003), multiplied by one plus the average percentage change in local current expense 17
	481	+	school expenditures for the two most recent available fiscal years for low-wealth counties in 18
	482	+	North Carolina (all local expenditures shall include local current expense expenditures incurred 19
	483	+	by charter schools within the appropriate districts), as determined by the Superintendent of Public 20
	484	+	Instruction or that person's designee. The average percentage change shall be calculated by (i) 21
	485	+	adding together for each of the two previous fiscal years the total current local expense 22
	486	+	expenditures for all low-wealth counties, (ii) dividing each of those totals, respectively, by the 23
	487	+	number of low-wealth counties receiving low-wealth funding in each year to obtain an average 24
	488	+	low-wealth county local current expense expenditure for each year, and (iii) comparing the two 25
	489	+	averages. The average percentage change shall equal the percent difference between the averages 26
	490	+	for the two years. The resulting product shall then be multiplied by a ratio consisting of the 27
	491	+	Average Daily Membership used to distribute State funding for the succeeding fiscal year as 28
	492	+	provided by the Department of Public Instruction, divided by the Average Daily Membership 29
	493	+	used to distribute funding for the current fiscal year, as determined by the Superintendent of 30
	494	+	Public Instruction, or that person's designee. The resulting product shall be the required level of 31
	495	+	current expense funding to be appropriated by the Board of Commissioners from any local 32
	496	+	sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines and 33
	497	+	forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the 34
	498	+	General Statutes. 35
	499	+	"Sec. 9.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act, the Scotland 36
	500	+	County Board of Commissioners and the Scotland County Board of Education may, in 37
	501	+	extraordinary economic circumstances, jointly set a level of current expense expenditures for a 38
	502	+	fiscal year. This deviation from Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act shall be valid only if approved by 39
	503	+	resolution of both boards. 40
	504	+	"Sec. 10. The public school system of Scotland County shall be known as and shall use the 41
	505	+	style of 'Scotland County School System' and the board of education shall be known as and shall 42
	506	+	use the style of 'Scotland County Board of Education'. 43
	507	+	"Sec. 11. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification." 44
	508	+	SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 45
	509	+	law. 46