School tax discussed

Published 8:29 am Tuesday, October 6, 2015

JACKSON – The Northampton Board of County Commissioners is expecting to hear from the Board of Education within the next week to possibly get funding to build a new central high school.

During public comments at Monday’s meeting, Board Chairwoman Fannie Greene told the audience that both boards have been working together for a supplemental tax that would help fund the new central high school.

The discussion began when citizen Floyd Joyner beseeched the commissioners to work together with the School Board to build a “new state of the art educational facility” that would benefit everyone in Northampton County.”

Greene said the two boards are working together and met in joint session a couple of weeks ago to discuss the matter.

Establishing a supplemental education tax must be formally requested by the School Board to the county commissioners by October 12.

The next step would be approval by the commissioners to put it to a countywide vote during the March 16 primary. County voters would then decide whether or not the school board can levy the supplemental tax.

Greene said the school board’s request not yet reached county offices.

In other citizen comments, Belinda Joyner requested that the Board of Commissioners hold the third-week Wednesday meeting in the evening rather than during the day so more citizens could attend.

Greene said the commissioners would look into the issue.

Commissioner Robert Carter said the Board attempted to hold night meetings around 2000, but the public did not attend.

He said he would be open to the idea.