North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S127 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 2
	3	+	S 1
4	4		SENATE BILL 127
5		-	~~Finance Committee Substitute Adopted 3/18/25~~
	5	+
6	6
7	7		Short Title: Lower Taxes for Scotland County. (Local)
8		-	Sponsors:
9		-	Referred to:
	8	+	Sponsors: Senator Britt (Primary Sponsor).
	9	+	Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
10	10		February 24, 2025
11		-	S127 -v-2
	11	+	S127 -v-1
12	12		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13		-	AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE SCOTLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONE RS TO 2
14		-	ADOPT A SCHOOL BUDGE T IN ITS DISCRETION, TO ELIMINATE THE 3
15		-	MANDATORY SCHOOL FUN DING FLOOR, AND TO M AKE CONFORMING 4
16		-	CHANGES. 5
17		-	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
18		-	SECTION 1. Chapter 707 of the 1963 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 1973-306, 7
19		-	2002-66, 2004-203, and 2006-171, reads as rewritten: 8
20		-	"Section 1. The purposes of this Act, among others, are to provide an enabling Statute, in 9
21		-	addition to other Statutes which may be available for such purposes, for the merger of the 10
22		-	Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative 11
23		-	Unit. 12
24		-	"Sec. 2. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of 13
25		-	Education, by majority vote of the full membership of each of said Boards, may jointly petition 14
26		-	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners for a county-wide election on the following 15
27		-	subjects: 16
28		-	(a) The merger of the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland 17
29		-	County School Administrative Unit and their respective Boards of Education. 18
30		-	(b) The construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the 19
31		-	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, Laurinburg High School, and 20
32		-	Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds pursuant to the County Finance Act, as 21
33		-	amended, for construction of said consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an 22
34		-	amount to be determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the 23
35		-	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education. 24
36		-	(c) To require the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and the 25
37		-	Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from any local sources, 26
38		-	including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such funds as will provide, at a minimum, 27
39		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which shall be no less than the average 28
40		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined 29
41		-	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 30
42		-	(d) To authorize the County Commissioners to levy a county-wide supplemental school 31
43		-	tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one hundred dollar valuation. 32
44		-	"Sec. 3. Upon the receipt of such petition, it shall be the duty of the Scotland County Board 33
45		-	of Commissioners to call an election upon the foregoing subjects within sixty (60) days thereafter 34
46		-	and fix the date for the same. The provisions of this Act, relating to the merger of the Laurinburg 35
47		-	City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative Unit, shall be 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 127-Second Edition
49		-	contingent upon the approval, by a majority of the voters voting in a county-wide election, of all 1
50		-	the proposals as set out in subsections (a) through (d) of Section 2 of this Act. The said election 2
51		-	shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Statutes of North 3
52		-	Carolina. 4
53		-	"Sec. 4.(a) The Scotland County Board of Education shall be comprised of 8 members. Five 5
54		-	of the members shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township and 3 of the members shall be 6
55		-	residents of any of the remaining 3 townships in Scotland County at large. 7
56		-	(b) Beginning with a primary election to be held in 1974, 2 members who shall be 8
57		-	residents of the Stewartsville Township and 2 members, who shall be residents of the other 3 9
58		-	townships at large shall be elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education 10
59		-	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1978. Beginning with a primary election to be held in 11
60		-	1976, 3 members, who shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township, and 1 member, who shall 12
61		-	be a resident of any of the other 3 townships, shall be elected to membership on the said board 13
62		-	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1980. In 1978 when the initial terms of the first 4 members 14
63		-	expire and in the regular county-wide biennial election of that year and in each regular 15
64		-	county-wide biennial election thereafter, four members shall be elected for terms of four years 16
65		-	each. 17
66		-	(c) The initial election for the 4 year terms of the 2 Stewartsville Township members and 18
67		-	the 2 members at large shall be conducted according to the procedure set forth in subsections 19
68		-	(d)(1) and (2) which provide for the regular elections for these seats beginning in 1978 and the 20
69		-	initial election for the four-year terms of the other 3 Stewartsville Township members and the 21
70		-	other 1 member at large shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 22
71		-	subsection (d)(3) and (4) which provides for regular elections for these seats on the board 23
72		-	beginning in 1980. 24
73		-	(d) The procedure for election of members to the Scotland County Board of Education 25
74		-	beginning in 1978 and every 2 years thereafter shall be as follows: 26
75		-	(1) At a primary election to be held in 1978 and every four years thereafter at the 27
76		-	same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 2 persons who 28
77		-	shall reside within the Stewartsville Township and 2 persons who shall reside 29
78		-	within any one of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be 30
79		-	elected for terms of 4 years each. 31
80		-	(2) (a) The 2 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest 32
81		-	number of votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose 33
82		-	names shall be placed upon the ballot at the general election and the 2 34
83		-	candidates at large from the other 3 Scotland County Townships who 35
84		-	shall receive the largest number of votes in the primary election shall 36
85		-	be the at large nominees whose names shall be placed upon the ballot 37
86		-	at the general election; provided however, that if 2 or fewer candidates 38
87		-	should file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township and if 2 or 39
88		-	fewer candidates should file for the nomination from the other 3 40
89		-	townships at large the names of such candidates shall be placed on the 41
90		-	ballot for the general election and there shall be no primary election 42
91		-	for the Stewartsville Township or for the 3 at large townships. 43
92		-	(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the 44
93		-	Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies 45
94		-	from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be 46
95		-	placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no 47
96		-	primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates 48
97		-	who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than 49
98		-	twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	Senate Bill 127-Second Edition Page 3
	13	+	AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE SCOTLAND COUNT Y BOARD OF EDUCATION TO 2
	14	+	SUBMIT A RECOMMENDAT ION OF SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR THE 3
	15	+	SCOTLAND COUNTY SCHO OL SYSTEM TO BE EVALUATED BY THE SCOTLAN D 4
	16	+	COUNTY BOARD OF COMM ISSIONERS INSTEAD OF A MANDATORY BUDGET 5
	17	+	REQUEST, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES. 6
	18	+	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
	19	+	SECTION 1.(a) Chapter 707 of the 1963 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 8
	20	+	1973-306, 2002-66, 2004-203, and 2006-171, reads as rewritten: 9
	21	+	"Section 1. The purposes of this Act, among others, are to provide an enabling Statute, in 10
	22	+	addition to other Statutes which may be available for such purposes, for the merger of the 11
	23	+	Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative 12
	24	+	Unit. 13
	25	+	"Sec. 2. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of 14
	26	+	Education, by majority vote of the full membership of each of said Boards, may jointly petition 15
	27	+	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners for a county-wide election on the following 16
	28	+	subjects: 17
	29	+	(a) The merger of the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland 18
	30	+	County School Administrative Unit and their respective Boards of Education. 19
	31	+	(b) The construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the 20
	32	+	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, Laurinburg High School, and 21
	33	+	Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds pursuant to the County Finance Act, as 22
	34	+	amended, for construction of said consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an 23
	35	+	amount to be determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the 24
	36	+	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education. 25
	37	+	(c) To require the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and the 26
	38	+	Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from any local sources, 27
	39	+	including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such funds as will provide, at a minimum, 28
	40	+	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which shall be no less than the average 29
	41	+	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined 30
	42	+	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 31
	43	+	(d) To authorize the County Commissioners to levy a county-wide supplemental school 32
	44	+	tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one hundred dollar valuation. 33
	45	+	"Sec. 3. Upon the receipt of such petition, it shall be the duty of the Scotland County Board 34
	46	+	of Commissioners to call an election upon the foregoing subjects within sixty (60) days thereafter 35
	47	+	and fix the date for the same. The provisions of this Act, relating to the merger of the Laurinburg 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	48	+	Page 2 Senate Bill 127-First Edition
	49	+	City School Administrative Unit and the Scotland County School Administrative Unit, shall be 1
	50	+	contingent upon the approval, by a majority of the voters voting in a county-wide election, of all 2
	51	+	the proposals as set out in subsections (a) through (d) of Section 2 of this Act. The said election 3
	52	+	shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Statutes of North 4
	53	+	Carolina. 5
	54	+	"Sec. 4.(a) The Scotland County Board of Education shall be comprised of 8 members. Five 6
	55	+	of the members shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township and 3 of the members shall be 7
	56	+	residents of any of the remaining 3 townships in Scotland County at large. 8
	57	+	(b) Beginning with a primary election to be held in 1974, 2 members who shall be 9
	58	+	residents of the Stewartsville Township and 2 members, who shall be residents of the other 3 10
	59	+	townships at large shall be elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education 11
	60	+	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1978. Beginning with a primary election to be held in 12
	61	+	1976, 3 members, who shall be residents of the Stewartsville Township, and 1 member, who shall 13
	62	+	be a resident of any of the other 3 townships, shall be elected to membership on the said board 14
	63	+	for initial terms of 4 years to expire in 1980. In 1978 when the initial terms of the first 4 members 15
	64	+	expire and in the regular county-wide biennial election of that year and in each regular 16
	65	+	county-wide biennial election thereafter, four members shall be elected for terms of four years 17
	66	+	each. 18
	67	+	(c) The initial election for the 4 year terms of the 2 Stewartsville Township members and 19
	68	+	the 2 members at large shall be conducted according to the procedure set forth in subsections 20
	69	+	(d)(1) and (2) which provide for the regular elections for these seats beginning in 1978 and the 21
	70	+	initial election for the four-year terms of the other 3 Stewartsville Township members and the 22
	71	+	other 1 member at large shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 23
	72	+	subsection (d)(3) and (4) which provides for regular elections for these seats on the board 24
	73	+	beginning in 1980. 25
	74	+	(d) The procedure for election of members to the Scotland County Board of Education 26
	75	+	beginning in 1978 and every 2 years thereafter shall be as follows: 27
	76	+	(1) At a primary election to be held in 1978 and every four years thereafter at the 28
	77	+	same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 2 persons who 29
	78	+	shall reside within the Stewartsville Township and 2 persons who shall reside 30
	79	+	within any one of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be 31
	80	+	elected for terms of 4 years each. 32
	81	+	(2) (a) The 2 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest 33
	82	+	number of votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose 34
	83	+	names shall be placed upon the ballot at the general election and the 2 35
	84	+	candidates at large from the other 3 Scotland County Townships who 36
	85	+	shall receive the largest number of votes in the primary election shall 37
	86	+	be the at large nominees whose names shall be placed upon the ballot 38
	87	+	at the general election; provided however, that if 2 or fewer candidates 39
	88	+	should file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township and if 2 or 40
	89	+	fewer candidates should file for the nomination from the other 3 41
	90	+	townships at large the names of such candidates shall be placed on the 42
	91	+	ballot for the general election and there shall be no primary election 43
	92	+	for the Stewartsville Township or for the 3 at large townships. 44
	93	+	(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the 45
	94	+	Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies 46
	95	+	from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be 47
	96	+	placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no 48
	97	+	primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates 49
	98	+	who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than 50
	99	+	twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	100	+	Senate Bill 127-First Edition Page 3
100	101		shall be placed on the ballot at the general election the four (twice the 1
101	102		number of vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 2
102	103		(c) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3 3
103	104		Scotland County Townships is twice or fewer than the number of 4
104	105		vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships the names of 5
105	106		such candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general election 6
106	107		and there shall be no primary election; provided further, that if the 7
107	108		number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3 8
108	109		Scotland County Townships is more than twice the number of 9
109	110		vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships there shall be 10
110	111		placed on the ballot at the general election the 4 (twice the number of 11
111	112		vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 12
112	113		(3) At a primary election to be held in 1980 and every 4 years thereafter at the 13
113	114		same time as the primary for the nomination of county officers 3 persons who 14
114	115		shall reside within the Stewartville Township and 1 person who shall reside 15
115	116		within any 1 of the other 3 Scotland County Townships at large shall be 16
116	117		elected to membership on the Scotland County Board of Education for terms 17
117	118		of 4 years each. 18
118	119		(4) (a) The 3 candidates from Stewartsville Township receiving the largest 19
119	120		number of votes in the primary election and the 1 candidate from the 20
120	121		other 3 Scotland County Townships receiving the largest number of 21
121	122		votes in the primary election shall be the nominees whose names shall 22
122	123		be placed upon the ballot at the general election; provided however, 23
123	124		that if 3 or fewer candidates should file for nomination from the 24
124	125		Stewartsville Township or no more than 1 candidate should file for 25
125	126		nomination from the other 3 townships at large the names of such 26
126	127		candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general election and 27
127	128		there shall be no primary election for the Stewartsville Township or 28
128	129		for Scotland County at large. 29
129	130		(b) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the 30
130	131		Stewartsville Township is twice or fewer than the number of vacancies 31
131	132		from Stewartsville Township the names of such candidates shall be 32
132	133		placed on the ballot for the general election and there shall be no 33
133	134		primary election; provided further, that if the number of candidates 34
134	135		who file for nomination from the Stewartsville Township is more than 35
135	136		twice the number of vacancies from the Stewartsville Township there 36
136	137		shall be placed on the ballot at the general election the 6 (twice the 37
137	138		number of vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 38
138	139		(c) If the number of candidates who file for nomination from the other 3 39
139	140		Scotland County Townships at large shall be twice or fewer than the 40
140	141		number of vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships the 41
141	142		names of such candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the general 42
142	143		election and there shall be no primary election; provided further that if 43
143	144		the number of candidates who file for the nomination from the other 3 44
144	145		Scotland County Townships is more than twice the number of 45
145	146		vacancies from the other 3 Scotland County Townships there shall be 46
146	147		placed on the ballot at the general election the 2 (twice the number of 47
147	148		vacancies) candidates receiving the largest number of votes. 48
148	149		(e) Repealed by Section 6 of Session Law 2006-171. 49
149	150		(f) The Board of Education shall prepare a ballot for use in the primaries and general 50
150	151		elections which shall be separate from other ballots and on which shall be listed separately the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
151		-	Page 4 Senate Bill 127-~~Second~~ Edition
	152	+	Page 4 Senate Bill 127-First Edition
152	153		candidates from the Stewartsville Township and the candidates from the 3 other Scotland County 1
153	154		Townships at large. The names of the candidates shall be placed on a ballot separate from other 2
154	155		ballots, bearing no party designation, and no party affiliation need be indicated at the time of 3
155	156		filing. Except as herein provided, all primary elections and general elections shall be held, 4
156	157		conducted and supervised by the County Board of Elections under the laws and regulations 5
157	158		providing for the election of county officers. 6
158	159		(g) All candidates for membership on the Scotland County Board of Education shall file 7
159	160		a notice of such candidacy with the Board of Elections not later than 12:00 p.m. on the Monday 8
160	161		preceding the tenth Tuesday before the primary election is to be held and each candidate shall 9
161	162		pay a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) and in addition shall certify in writing whether he is filing 10
162	163		for the Stewartsville Township seat or the at-large seat, the township within which he resides and 11
163	164		that he is a bona fide resident thereof, said notice to be filed with the Scotland County Board of 12
164	165		Elections. 13
165	166		(h) All persons registered and qualified to vote in the general election shall be qualified 14
166	167		to vote in the primary. All qualified voters of Scotland County may vote in any primary or general 15
167	168		election held pursuant to this act and may vote for all candidates for the Board of Education 16
168	169		regardless of their residence in either the Stewartsville Township or the at-large townships. 17
169	170		(i) Any vacancies which may occur on the Scotland County Board of Education after the 18
170	171		election of the members of the Board in 1974 shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the 19
171	172		remaining members of the board for the unexpired term; provided that, if the seat which shall 20
172	173		become vacant is held by a resident of Stewartsville Township his successor shall likewise be a 21
173	174		resident of the Stewartsville Township and if the seat which shall become vacant is held by a 22
174	175		resident of the at-large townships his successor shall likewise be a resident of one of the at-large 23
175	176		townships. 24
176	177		(j) In the event no candidate is elected in the general election to fill any term which is 25
177	178		about to expire then and in that event the Scotland County Board of Education shall declare a 26
178	179		vacancy and such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with subsection (i). 27
179	180		"Sec. 5. The following provisions shall apply in the event of merger under the plan provided 28
180	181		for in this Act. 29
181	182		(a) The Consolidated Board shall be the County Board of Education in and for Scotland 30
182	183		County and shall have county-wide jurisdiction over the public school system in Scotland 31
183	184		County, including all municipalities located therein. The name of the Consolidated Board shall 32
184	185		be: Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education.The public school system of Scotland 33
185	186		County shall be known as and shall use the style of "Scotland County School System," and the 34
186	187		Board of Education shall be known as and shall use the style of "Scotland County Board of 35
187	188		Education." 36
188	189		(b) Repealed by Section 2 of Chapter 306 of the 1973 Session Laws. 37
189	190		(c) For the fiscal year beginning July 1 immediately following merging of the two Boards 38
190	191		of Education, if the Consolidated Board is not created in sufficient time to present its 39
191	192		supplemental tax budget and its capital outlay, debt service and current expense budgets within 40
192	193		the time prescribed by law for said fiscal year, then the members of the Scotland County Board 41
193	194		of Education and the members of the Laurinburg City Board of Education, acting jointly and by 42
194	195		a majority vote of all members present, shall determine the amount and contents of the 43
195	196		supplemental tax budget requested for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of that year, and shall give 44
196	197		the Scotland County Board of Commissioners due notice thereof in time to levy such taxes as 45
197	198		may be necessary to provide funds for said budget for that year, and the said two Boards of 46
198	199		Education, acting in like manner, shall prepare and submit to the said Board of Commissioners 47
199	200		the capital outlay, debt service, and current expense budgets for that fiscal year within the time 48
200	201		prescribed by law. 49
201	202		(d) Each year following the merging of the two Boards of Education, at the same time 50
202		-	the other school budgets are filed, the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education shall file 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
203		-	Senate Bill 127-Second Edition Page 5
204		-	a supplemental tax budget which, when added to the regular budget, shall provide, at a minimum, 1
205		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds which are no less than the average 2
206		-	current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State as determined by 3
207		-	the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The said Board of 4
208		-	Commissioners shall approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in the minimum amount 5
209		-	provided for above and may approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in larger amounts, 6
210		-	and shall then provide the funds therefor from local funds.For fiscal year 2025-2026, the Scotland 7
211		-	County Board of Education shall submit to the Scotland County Board of Commissioners, at the 8
212		-	same time the other school budgets are filed, a budget request for operational and capital funding 9
213		-	in amounts that would provide an appropriate education to all students in Scotland County during 10
214		-	that fiscal year. In evaluating the request, the board of commissioners shall consider the 11
215		-	educational goals and policies of the State and the local board of education, the budgetary request 12
216		-	of the board of education, the financial resources of the county and the board of education, and 13
217		-	the fiscal policies of the board of county commissioners and the board of education. Based on 14
218		-	this evaluation, the board of commissioners shall determine, in its discretion, the amount of 15
219		-	county revenues, including any voted supplemental tax revenues, to be appropriated to the board 16
220		-	of education's local current expense fund and capital outlay fund for fiscal year 2025-2026. 17
221		-	Neither the board of education nor the board of commissioners may initiate a dispute resolution 18
222		-	process or file any legal action challenging the determination of funds to be appropriated by the 19
223		-	board of commissioners to the local current expense fund and capital outlay fund for fiscal year 20
224		-	2025-2026. Beginning with fiscal year 2026-2027 and each year thereafter, the preparation, 21
225		-	submission, and approval of a budget for the board of education shall be in accordance with 22
226		-	Article 31 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes. 23
227		-	(e) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education, as reorganized, shall 24
228		-	appoint a treasurer of all the school funds of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School 25
229		-	Administrative Unit. The treasurer so appointed shall continue to fill such position at the 26
230		-	discretion of the Board of Education. No person authorized to make the expenditures or draw 27
231		-	vouchers therefor, or to approve the same, shall act as treasurer of said funds. The treasurer shall 28
232		-	give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such amount as the Board of Education 29
233		-	may prescribe, but, in no event, for less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00). Except 30
234		-	as herein otherwise expressly provided, the treasurer shall perform duties prescribed by 31
235		-	applicable provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes of North Carolina and shall be 32
236		-	subject to all of such provisions of said Act. All sums appropriated by said Board of 33
237		-	Commissioners for capital outlay, current expense and to supplement the current expense fund 34
238		-	from State and county allotments shall be paid over to the Treasurer of the Laurinburg-Scotland 35
239		-	Scotland County Board of Education at reasonable periods after the receipt of said funds by the 36
240		-	Treasurer of Scotland County; provided, however, that the said Board of Commissioners shall 37
241		-	hold and administer the proceeds of school bond sales in accordance with the procedure now 38
242		-	being followed in holding and administering the proceeds of such sales. 39
243		-	(f) In addition to the election of a chairman in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 40
244		-	115 of the General Statutes, the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may 41
245		-	also select one of its members as vice-chairman who shall preside at all meetings of the Board in 42
246		-	the absence of the chairman, and whenever the Board shall have duly authorized the execution 43
247		-	of any contract, conveyance, or other instrument, the vice-chairman shall have the same authority 44
248		-	as the chairman to execute the same on behalf of the Board. In the event of absence or inability 45
249		-	of both the chairman and vice-chairman, the Board by resolution duly adopted and spread upon 46
250		-	the minutes of any meeting, may authorize any other member to execute any contract, 47
251		-	conveyance or instrument for and on behalf of the Board. 48
252		-	(g) The superintendent of schools shall be ex officio secretary of the Board as provided 49
253		-	by G. S. 115-36. The Board may elect an assistant secretary to serve at the pleasure of the Board. 50
254		-	The assistant secretary may be, but shall not be required to be, a member of the Board. Such 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
255		-	Page 6 Senate Bill 127-Second Edition
256		-	assistant secretary may perform the duties of the secretary of the Board when the secretary is 1
257		-	absent from any meeting or for any other reason is unable to perform his duties as secretary. The 2
258		-	assistant secretary shall have authority to attest all contracts, conveyances, and other instruments 3
259		-	which are required by law to be attested by the secretary. The secretary, or in his absence, the 4
260		-	assistant secretary, shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board and it shall be the duty of 5
261		-	such secretary or assistant secretary to furnish each member of the Board with a copy of the 6
262		-	minutes as soon after any meeting as may be reasonably practicable. 7
263		-	(h) In addition to the election of a superintendent of schools in the manner provided by 8
264		-	the general law, the Board may employ, upon recommendation of the superintendent, such 9
265		-	associate superintendents and assistant superintendents and such other administrative officers as 10
266		-	it may deem necessary and proper, fix their salaries' and prescribe their duties and powers. They 11
267		-	may be elected to serve at the pleasure of the Board or for such terms as may be fixed by the 12
268		-	Board, but the terms of any associate superintendents or assistant superintendents shall not 13
269		-	exceed the term for which the superintendent is employed. All principals, supervisory personnel, 14
270		-	and teachers shall be employed by the Board, upon recommendation of the superintendent. The 15
271		-	Board may delegate to the superintendent of schools or to one or more associate superintendents 16
272		-	or assistant superintendents or to other administrative officers, the authority to employ and 17
273		-	prescribe the duties of all other employees or classes of employees, including janitors and maids, 18
274		-	and to fix the compensation and the terms or periods for which they shall be employed, subject 19
275		-	to the approval of the Board of Education. 20
276		-	(i) A majority of the full membership of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board 21
277		-	of Education shall constitute a quorum. 22
278		-	(j) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may appoint an 23
279		-	advisory council for any school or for all the schools within the system. The purpose and function 24
280		-	of an advisory council shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board on matters affecting 25
281		-	the school or schools for which it is appointed. The organization, terms, composition and 26
282		-	regulations for the operation of such advisory council shall be determined by the Board. Article 27
283		-	7 of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes (School Committees) shall not apply to Scotland County. 28
284		-	The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School Administrative Unit shall constitute one 29
285		-	school unit. 30
286		-	(k) Title to all property of the Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland 31
287		-	County Board of Education, both real and personal, of every kind and description, shall be vested 32
288		-	in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education as of the effective date of 33
289		-	consolidation. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of 34
290		-	Education shall have full and ample authority to execute without consideration therefor or public 35
291		-	sale of the property involved, all such deeds and other instruments as may be deemed necessary 36
292		-	or proper to vest record title to any such property in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County 37
293		-	Board of Education. 38
294		-	(l) All claims and demands of every kind which the Laurinburg City Board of Education 39
295		-	or the Scotland County Board of Education may have as of the effective date of consolidation 40
296		-	shall pass and be transferred to the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education 41
297		-	and the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education shall have the same power 42
298		-	and authority to enforce said claims and demands as the Laurinburg City Board of Education or 43
299		-	the Scotland County Board of Education would have had in the event of its continued existence. 44
300		-	Any obligations or liabilities of the Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County 45
301		-	Board of Education existing as of the effective date of consolidation, shall be and become the 46
302		-	obligations and liabilities of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education and 47
303		-	such obligations and liabilities may be enforced against said Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland 48
304		-	County Board of Education to the same extent that they might have been enforced against the 49
305		-	Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County Board of Education had the said 50
306		-	Boards continued in existence. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
307		-	Senate Bill 127-Second Edition Page 7
308		-	(m) As of the effective date of consolidation, all provisions of the Charter of the City of 1
309		-	Laurinburg relating to public schools shall be deemed and are hereby repealed. 2
310		-	"Sec. 6. The provisions of this Act shall prevail over any inconsistent provisions of Chapter 3
311		-	115 Chapter 115C of the General Statutes of North Carolina and other general or special Acts. 4
312		-	"Sec. 7. The provisions in the preceding Sections of this Act shall be contingent upon the 5
313		-	following: 6
314		-	(a) Approval of the following by a majority of the voters voting in said election: 7
315		-	(1) Merger under the plan as set forth in this Act; 8
316		-	(2) Construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the 9
317		-	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, 10
318		-	Laurinburg High School, and Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds 11
319		-	pursuant to the County Finance Act, as amended, for construction of said 12
320		-	consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an amount as 13
321		-	determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the 14
322		-	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education. 15
323		-	(3) Requiring the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and 16
324		-	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from 17
325		-	any local sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such 18
326		-	funds as will provide, at a minimum, current expense expenditures per student 19
327		-	from local funds which are no less than the average current expense 20
328		-	expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined 21
329		-	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 22
330		-	(4) Authorizing the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to levy a 23
331		-	county-wide supplemental school tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one 24
332		-	hundred dollar valuation. 25
333		-	(b) Petition by the Laurinburg City Board of Education to the Scotland County Board of 26
334		-	Education and the State Board of Education for merger of the Laurinburg City Administrative 27
335		-	School Unit and the Scotland County Administrative School Unit under this Act and Section 28
336		-	115-74 of the General Statutes of North Carolina within ninety (90) days after the announcement 29
337		-	of a favorable vote in such election. Said petition shall specify the effective date of merger. 30
338		-	(c) Approval of said merger by the Scotland County Board of Education. 31
339		-	(d) Approval of said merger by the State Board of Education. 32
340		-	"Sec. 8. If an election under this Act fails to carry on the subjects in Section 7 (a) (1) through 33
341		-	(4), or if no petition for consolidation is made under Section 7 (b), or if such petition is made but 34
342		-	not approved as required under Section 7 (c) and (d) of this Act, another election may be called, 35
343		-	for a vote on the subjects as outlined in Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) at any time after expiration 36
344		-	of six (6) months following the date of the next preceding election called and held under this Act. 37
345		-	"Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall operate to repeal any special school tax now provided for 38
346		-	by law for the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit or the Scotland County School 39
347		-	Administrative Unit unless a majority of the votes cast in said election authorizes the subjects in 40
348		-	Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) of this Act and until the merger of the units is effected. 41
349		-	"Sec. 9.1. For the 2002-2003 fiscal year only, current expense expenditures from local funds 42
350		-	for the Scotland County Schools shall be eight million seven hundred thousand dollars 43
351		-	($8,700,000) and said sum shall be appropriated by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners 44
352		-	from local funds, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines 45
353		-	and forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the 46
354		-	General Statutes. 47
355		-	"Sec. 9.2. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the base amount of funding for current 48
356		-	expense expenditures from local funds shall include the previous year's level of current expense 49
357		-	expenditures (for example, eight million seven hundred thousand dollars ($8,700,000) in 50
358		-	2002-2003), multiplied by one plus the average percentage change in local current expense 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
359		-	Page 8 Senate Bill 127-Second Edition
360		-	school expenditures for the two most recent available fiscal years for low-wealth counties in 1
361		-	North Carolina (all local expenditures shall include local current expense expenditures incurred 2
362		-	by charter schools within the appropriate districts), as determined by the Superintendent of Public 3
363		-	Instruction or that person's designee. The average percentage change shall be calculated by (i) 4
364		-	adding together for each of the two previous fiscal years the total current local expense 5
365		-	expenditures for all low-wealth counties, (ii) dividing each of those totals, respectively, by the 6
366		-	number of low-wealth counties receiving low-wealth funding in each year to obtain an average 7
367		-	low-wealth county local current expense expenditure for each year, and (iii) comparing the two 8
368		-	averages. The average percentage change shall equal the percent difference between the averages 9
369		-	for the two years. The resulting product shall then be multiplied by a ratio consisting of the 10
370		-	Average Daily Membership used to distribute State funding for the succeeding fiscal year as 11
371		-	provided by the Department of Public Instruction, divided by the Average Daily Membership 12
372		-	used to distribute funding for the current fiscal year, as determined by the Superintendent of 13
373		-	Public Instruction, or that person's designee. The resulting product shall be the required level of 14
374		-	current expense funding to be appropriated by the Board of Commissioners from any local 15
375		-	sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines and 16
376		-	forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the 17
377		-	General Statutes. 18
378		-	"Sec. 9.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act, the Scotland 19
379		-	County Board of Commissioners and the Scotland County Board of Education may, in 20
380		-	extraordinary economic circumstances, jointly set a level of current expense expenditures for a 21
381		-	fiscal year. This deviation from Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act shall be valid only if approved by 22
382		-	resolution of both boards. 23
383		-	"Sec. 10. The public school system of Scotland County shall be known as and shall use the 24
384		-	style of 'Scotland County School System' and the board of education shall be known as and shall 25
385		-	use the style of 'Scotland County Board of Education'. 26
386		-	"Sec. 11. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification." 27
387		-	SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 28
	203	+	the other school budgets are filed, the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	204	+	Senate Bill 127-First Edition Page 5
	205	+	shall file a recommended supplemental tax budget which, when added to the regular budget, shall 1
	206	+	provide, at a minimum, current expense expenditures per student from local funds which are no 2
	207	+	less than the average current expense expenditures per student from local funds throughout the 3
	208	+	State as determined by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 4
	209	+	would provide the amount of per student funding determined by the Scotland County Board of 5
	210	+	Education to be requisite to provide an appropriate education to all students in Scotland County. 6
	211	+	The said Board of Commissioners shall approve the regular Commissioners, in the process of 7
	212	+	approving the regular budget, shall evaluate the recommended supplemental tax budget provided 8
	213	+	by the Scotland County Board of Education and may approve the supplemental tax budgets in 9
	214	+	the minimum amount provided for above an amount the Board of Commissioners deems 10
	215	+	appropriate and may approve the regular and supplemental tax budgets in larger amounts, and 11
	216	+	shall then provide the funds therefor from local funds. 12
	217	+	(e) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education, as reorganized, shall 13
	218	+	appoint a treasurer of all the school funds of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School 14
	219	+	Administrative Unit. The treasurer so appointed shall continue to fill such position at the 15
	220	+	discretion of the Board of Education. No person authorized to make the expenditures or draw 16
	221	+	vouchers therefor, or to approve the same, shall act as treasurer of said funds. The treasurer shall 17
	222	+	give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such amount as the Board of Education 18
	223	+	may prescribe, but, in no event, for less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00). Except 19
	224	+	as herein otherwise expressly provided, the treasurer shall perform duties prescribed by 20
	225	+	applicable provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes of North Carolina and shall be 21
	226	+	subject to all of such provisions of said Act. All sums appropriated by said Board of 22
	227	+	Commissioners for capital outlay, current expense and to supplement the current expense fund 23
	228	+	from State and county allotments shall be paid over to the Treasurer of the Laurinburg-Scotland 24
	229	+	Scotland County Board of Education at reasonable periods after the receipt of said funds by the 25
	230	+	Treasurer of Scotland County; provided, however, that the said Board of Commissioners shall 26
	231	+	hold and administer the proceeds of school bond sales in accordance with the procedure now 27
	232	+	being followed in holding and administering the proceeds of such sales. 28
	233	+	(f) In addition to the election of a chairman in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 29
	234	+	115 of the General Statutes, the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may 30
	235	+	also select one of its members as vice-chairman who shall preside at all meetings of the Board in 31
	236	+	the absence of the chairman, and whenever the Board shall have duly authorized the execution 32
	237	+	of any contract, conveyance, or other instrument, the vice-chairman shall have the same authority 33
	238	+	as the chairman to execute the same on behalf of the Board. In the event of absence or inability 34
	239	+	of both the chairman and vice-chairman, the Board by resolution duly adopted and spread upon 35
	240	+	the minutes of any meeting, may authorize any other member to execute any contract, 36
	241	+	conveyance or instrument for and on behalf of the Board. 37
	242	+	(g) The superintendent of schools shall be ex officio secretary of the Board as provided 38
	243	+	by G. S. 115-36. The Board may elect an assistant secretary to serve at the pleasure of the Board. 39
	244	+	The assistant secretary may be, but shall not be required to be, a member of the Board. Such 40
	245	+	assistant secretary may perform the duties of the secretary of the Board when the secretary is 41
	246	+	absent from any meeting or for any other reason is unable to perform his duties as secretary. The 42
	247	+	assistant secretary shall have authority to attest all contracts, conveyances, and other instruments 43
	248	+	which are required by law to be attested by the secretary. The secretary, or in his absence, the 44
	249	+	assistant secretary, shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board and it shall be the duty of 45
	250	+	such secretary or assistant secretary to furnish each member of the Board with a copy of the 46
	251	+	minutes as soon after any meeting as may be reasonably practicable. 47
	252	+	(h) In addition to the election of a superintendent of schools in the manner provided by 48
	253	+	the general law, the Board may employ, upon recommendation of the superintendent, such 49
	254	+	associate superintendents and assistant superintendents and such other administrative officers as 50
	255	+	it may deem necessary and proper, fix their salaries' and prescribe their duties and powers. They 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	256	+	Page 6 Senate Bill 127-First Edition
	257	+	may be elected to serve at the pleasure of the Board or for such terms as may be fixed by the 1
	258	+	Board, but the terms of any associate superintendents or assistant superintendents shall not 2
	259	+	exceed the term for which the superintendent is employed. All principals, supervisory personnel, 3
	260	+	and teachers shall be employed by the Board, upon recommendation of the superintendent. The 4
	261	+	Board may delegate to the superintendent of schools or to one or more associate superintendents 5
	262	+	or assistant superintendents or to other administrative officers, the authority to employ and 6
	263	+	prescribe the duties of all other employees or classes of employees, including janitors and maids, 7
	264	+	and to fix the compensation and the terms or periods for which they shall be employed, subject 8
	265	+	to the approval of the Board of Education. 9
	266	+	(i) A majority of the full membership of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board 10
	267	+	of Education shall constitute a quorum. 11
	268	+	(j) The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education may appoint an 12
	269	+	advisory council for any school or for all the schools within the system. The purpose and function 13
	270	+	of an advisory council shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board on matters affecting 14
	271	+	the school or schools for which it is appointed. The organization, terms, composition and 15
	272	+	regulations for the operation of such advisory council shall be determined by the Board. Article 16
	273	+	7 of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes (School Committees) shall not apply to Scotland County. 17
	274	+	The Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County School Administrative Unit shall constitute one 18
	275	+	school unit. 19
	276	+	(k) Title to all property of the Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland 20
	277	+	County Board of Education, both real and personal, of every kind and description, shall be vested 21
	278	+	in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education as of the effective date of 22
	279	+	consolidation. The Laurinburg City Board of Education and the Scotland County Board of 23
	280	+	Education shall have full and ample authority to execute without consideration therefor or public 24
	281	+	sale of the property involved, all such deeds and other instruments as may be deemed necessary 25
	282	+	or proper to vest record title to any such property in the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County 26
	283	+	Board of Education. 27
	284	+	(l) All claims and demands of every kind which the Laurinburg City Board of Education 28
	285	+	or the Scotland County Board of Education may have as of the effective date of consolidation 29
	286	+	shall pass and be transferred to the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education 30
	287	+	and the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education shall have the same power 31
	288	+	and authority to enforce said claims and demands as the Laurinburg City Board of Education or 32
	289	+	the Scotland County Board of Education would have had in the event of its continued existence. 33
	290	+	Any obligations or liabilities of the Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County 34
	291	+	Board of Education existing as of the effective date of consolidation, shall be and become the 35
	292	+	obligations and liabilities of the Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland County Board of Education and 36
	293	+	such obligations and liabilities may be enforced against said Laurinburg-Scotland Scotland 37
	294	+	County Board of Education to the same extent that they might have been enforced against the 38
	295	+	Laurinburg City Board of Education or the Scotland County Board of Education had the said 39
	296	+	Boards continued in existence. 40
	297	+	(m) As of the effective date of consolidation, all provisions of the Charter of the City of 41
	298	+	Laurinburg relating to public schools shall be deemed and are hereby repealed. 42
	299	+	"Sec. 6. The provisions of this Act shall prevail over any inconsistent provisions of Chapter 43
	300	+	115 Chapter 115C of the General Statutes of North Carolina and other general or special Acts. 44
	301	+	"Sec. 7. The provisions in the preceding Sections of this Act shall be contingent upon the 45
	302	+	following: 46
	303	+	(a) Approval of the following by a majority of the voters voting in said election: 47
	304	+	(1) Merger under the plan as set forth in this Act; 48
	305	+	(2) Construction of a new consolidated high school to be established to serve the 49
	306	+	students assigned to Gibson High School, Laurel Hill High School, 50
	307	+	Laurinburg High School, and Wagram High School, and the issuance of bonds 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	308	+	Senate Bill 127-First Edition Page 7
	309	+	pursuant to the County Finance Act, as amended, for construction of said 1
	310	+	consolidated high school and for other school purposes in an amount as 2
	311	+	determined by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners upon the 3
	312	+	recommendation of the existing City and County Boards of Education. 4
	313	+	(3) Requiring the Laurinburg-Scotland County Board of Education to request and 5
	314	+	the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to appropriate annually from 6
	315	+	any local sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, such 7
	316	+	funds as will provide, at a minimum, current expense expenditures per student 8
	317	+	from local funds which are no less than the average current expense 9
	318	+	expenditures per student from local funds throughout the State, as determined 10
	319	+	by the latest certification of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 11
	320	+	(4) Authorizing the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to levy a 12
	321	+	county-wide supplemental school tax not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) per one 13
	322	+	hundred dollar valuation. 14
	323	+	(b) Petition by the Laurinburg City Board of Education to the Scotland County Board of 15
	324	+	Education and the State Board of Education for merger of the Laurinburg City Administrative 16
	325	+	School Unit and the Scotland County Administrative School Unit under this Act and Section 17
	326	+	115-74 of the General Statutes of North Carolina within ninety (90) days after the announcement 18
	327	+	of a favorable vote in such election. Said petition shall specify the effective date of merger. 19
	328	+	(c) Approval of said merger by the Scotland County Board of Education. 20
	329	+	(d) Approval of said merger by the State Board of Education. 21
	330	+	"Sec. 8. If an election under this Act fails to carry on the subjects in Section 7 (a) (1) through 22
	331	+	(4), or if no petition for consolidation is made under Section 7 (b), or if such petition is made but 23
	332	+	not approved as required under Section 7 (c) and (d) of this Act, another election may be called, 24
	333	+	for a vote on the subjects as outlined in Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) at any time after expiration 25
	334	+	of six (6) months following the date of the next preceding election called and held under this Act. 26
	335	+	"Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall operate to repeal any special school tax now provided for 27
	336	+	by law for the Laurinburg City School Administrative Unit or the Scotland County School 28
	337	+	Administrative Unit unless a majority of the votes cast in said election authorizes the subjects in 29
	338	+	Section 7 (a) (1) through (4) of this Act and until the merger of the units is effected. 30
	339	+	"Sec. 9.1. For the 2002-2003 fiscal year only, current expense expenditures from local funds 31
	340	+	for the Scotland County Schools shall be eight million seven hundred thousand dollars 32
	341	+	($8,700,000) and said sum shall be appropriated by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners 33
	342	+	from local funds, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines 34
	343	+	and forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the 35
	344	+	General Statutes. 36
	345	+	"Sec. 9.2. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the base amount of funding for current 37
	346	+	expense expenditures from local funds shall include the previous year's level of current expense 38
	347	+	expenditures (for example, eight million seven hundred thousand dollars ($8,700,000) in 39
	348	+	2002-2003), multiplied by one plus the average percentage change in local current expense 40
	349	+	school expenditures for the two most recent available fiscal years for low-wealth counties in 41
	350	+	North Carolina (all local expenditures shall include local current expense expenditures incurred 42
	351	+	by charter schools within the appropriate districts), as determined by the Superintendent of Public 43
	352	+	Instruction or that person's designee. The average percentage change shall be calculated by (i) 44
	353	+	adding together for each of the two previous fiscal years the total current local expense 45
	354	+	expenditures for all low-wealth counties, (ii) dividing each of those totals, respectively, by the 46
	355	+	number of low-wealth counties receiving low-wealth funding in each year to obtain an average 47
	356	+	low-wealth county local current expense expenditure for each year, and (iii) comparing the two 48
	357	+	averages. The average percentage change shall equal the percent difference between the averages 49
	358	+	for the two years. The resulting product shall then be multiplied by a ratio consisting of the 50
	359	+	Average Daily Membership used to distribute State funding for the succeeding fiscal year as 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	360	+	Page 8 Senate Bill 127-First Edition
	361	+	provided by the Department of Public Instruction, divided by the Average Daily Membership 1
	362	+	used to distribute funding for the current fiscal year, as determined by the Superintendent of 2
	363	+	Public Instruction, or that person's designee. The resulting product shall be the required level of 3
	364	+	current expense funding to be appropriated by the Board of Commissioners from any local 4
	365	+	sources, including both general and supplemental tax revenues, and not including fines and 5
	366	+	forfeitures or restricted use sales taxes authorized by Article 40 or 42 of Chapter 105 of the 6
	367	+	General Statutes. 7
	368	+	"Sec. 9.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act, the Scotland 8
	369	+	County Board of Commissioners and the Scotland County Board of Education may, in 9
	370	+	extraordinary economic circumstances, jointly set a level of current expense expenditures for a 10
	371	+	fiscal year. This deviation from Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this act shall be valid only if approved by 11
	372	+	resolution of both boards. 12
	373	+	"Sec. 10. The public school system of Scotland County shall be known as and shall use the 13
	374	+	style of 'Scotland County School System' and the board of education shall be known as and shall 14
	375	+	use the style of 'Scotland County Board of Education'. 15
	376	+	"Sec. 11. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification." 16
	377	+	SECTION 1.(b) S.L. 2002-66 is repealed. 17
	378	+	SECTION 1.(c) Section 63 of S.L. 2004-203 is repealed. 18
	379	+	SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 19