New Hanover County Board of Education favors proposed sales tax increase

NEW HANOVER COUNTY – In an Interim Meeting held on April 22, 2010 at 4:30 p.m., the New Hanover County Board of Education passed a resolution in favor of the one quarter cent sales tax increase currently proposed by the New Hanover County government.

New Hanover County has stated the one fourth of one cent sales tax would help reduce the budget shortfall that could lead to reduced funding to New Hanover County Schools and to the closing of many County facilities such as museums, libraries and parks. Voters will have the opportunity to vote on the sales tax in the upcoming election on May 4, 2010. Currently, New Hanover County is facing an $11-14 million funding deficit.

The Board of Education voted unanimously to pass the resolution.

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THE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the New Hanover County Board of Education (“School Board”) is in the process of preparing its budget for the 2010-2011 school year and expects significant budget cuts from the State and New Hanover County due to current economic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the School Board has no authority to levy taxes to generate revenue to run the School System and is dependent on the Federal and State governments and New Hanover County to provide it adequate funding on a yearly basis; and
WHEREAS, the School Board is totally dependent on New Hanover County for its local funding; and
WHEREAS, members of the School Board having met with officials of New

Hanover County regarding local funding of the School System, the School Board is of

the belief that passage of the ¼ per cent sales tax would help to minimize cuts in local

funding for the School System and the impact on the level of educational services that

the School System would be able to provide.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New Hanover County Board of Education express its strong support of the ¼ per cent sales tax in New Hanover County and urges parents and other citizens to also give it their support.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

By:_____________________________________
EDWARD B. HIGGINS, JR., Chairman

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