Brunswick Co. commissioners raise questions about $152 million school bond

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Monday the Brunswick County Commission had a chance to ask questions about the proposed $152 million bond for Brunswick County Schools. The commission must decide whether to put the proposed bond on the 2016 ballot.

Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Les Tubb said the district needs the $152 million school bond to fund 12 improvement projects in their schools. In his presentation to the commission he said some of the top priorities are building a new middle school, adding classrooms to some schools, plus updating security, technology and athletic facilities. He said all 19 schools need some type of work done. Tubb added some schools are getting crowded and need to expand to accommodate growth.

According to the presentation, the tax bill on a $200,000 house would increase by about $75 per year.

Commissioner Marty Cooke said he is concerned that all the options the school system has have not been looked at, such as using facilities that are not at capacity, like Brunswick County Academy, or redistricting.

“Before we go to a bond, with respect to the citizens, I want to make sure that we have looked at every single thing exhaustively before we ask them to spend additional money,” Cooke said.

School Board Vice Chair Catherine Cooke, Marty’s wife, said she understands the questions.

“There’s been a question about redistricting to change the population at the schools, so there’s just questions regardless of now or if we do it in 2018,” she said.

The county commissioners have until July to decide if this school bond will make it on the November 2016 ballot, but school leaders said they hope commissioners make the decision sooner. Commissioners said in the meeting it should not take them that long to make a decision, but they do need some time.