[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6355778,"mediaKeyId","2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a","parentId",2217902,"title","DSS director outlines Special Children Adoption Incentive Fund; county asked to consider participation","audioSeconds",1035,"startMs",193000,"endMs",1228000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a&start=193&end=1228","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a/thumbnail_193000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6355778/Alexander-County/North-Carolina/DSS-director-outlines-Special-Children-Adoption-Incentive-Fund-county-asked-to-consider-participation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355778-e0da4abd167e228c88b8da41819bcda1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076166&Signature=bk0as-If7izd7gdWAPZJSZjR9B~6FS-RW3wQPP7linas5B0Q-x6d3MyXOazb4rjfhGAW2jrkDQQ99v58iJ6eTkBswNs6vVEatiThBL6AdQH~SAi12dkMv3WtgGxsmIsFYTCuhbeOGlHUvGxlEKFsfZbJUtVcEqbzS97HI9imd31ZJ-cGgo2dXzYjLNuMnfjfypIoTJfqKrE3orYu4fLrSpLrSQlM1To86GV817XKaxPETWDrOZw5AuFDaWkt4gpYXKbC0TopcBmXpoIfCkAydE39x7~c8cVwSJcS9ipOEcleaTYwH54MPNR0fzTmPmqoPkgP50oT22y0DTDRpic6oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-04T11:48:57Z","article","Social services staff described the Special Children Adoption (SCA) incentive program Feb. 3 and invited the Alexander County Board of Commissioners to consider opting in to allow payments to adoptive families for children with exceptional care needs.

Carrie Gerald, director of the Alexander County Department of Social Services, told the board that the program provides additional payments to families adopting children who meet a state'defined list of special-needs criteria. \"The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services makes monthly payments of SCA funding to eligible families who complete adoption of qualifying children and invoices the county for 50% share of the cost,\" Gerald said. She told the board the program is funded through the Social Services Block Grant and that counties may opt to cap participation or negotiate payment amounts with families.

Paul Kelly, a foster parent who said he has cared for a child from Alexander County for 16 months and sought to adopt, urged the board to approve SCA participation. \"I'm here today to talk to you about setting up SCA funding for children like our child,\" Kelly said, describing additional diagnoses discovered after entering foster care and the added cost and services that adoptive families may need.

Taneal Howman, district administrator for the guardian ad litem program in Alexander and Iredell counties, told the commissioners that financial barriers are preventing some adoptive placements. \"We have over 50 kids in custody,\" Howman said, and she described vacancies on the county foster-care team that she called a crisis. Howman and Kelly said SCA payments while children remain in foster care could reduce long-term costs and help place children more quickly.

Gerald said participation requires the county to notify a state SCA coordinator and that county staff would prepare and submit applications; the state makes final eligibility determinations. She cautioned that projected fiscal impact is uncertain: \"There is no true ceiling to potential program cost and future budgetary impacts,\" Gerald told the board. She said staff could return with more detailed estimates if commissioners requested specific questions be posed to the state.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the state's special-needs definition, program eligibility, and whether payments would continue until a child turns 18; speakers confirmed payments continue until age 18 for qualifying children. The board did not take a vote at the meeting; staff offered to follow up with the state and provide requested information to the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alexander County Board of Commissioners Meeting - February 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Social services staff described the Special Children Adoption incentive program and its financial terms, and foster parents and a guardian ad litem urged the board to opt in to reduce barriers to adopting children with special needs.","taxTitle","Alexander County, North Carolina","taxId",60936,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6355772,"Votes at a glance: Alexander County commissioners pass reappraisal resolution and approve budget amendments, consent agenda and closed-session motion",152,3376000,3528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a&start=3376&end=3528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a/thumbnail_3376000.jpg","/articles/6355772/Alexander-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Alexander-County-commissioners-pass-reappraisal-resolution-and-approve-budget-amendments-consent-agenda-and-closed-session-motion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355772-2c3c624606c5abaee085e7d5a4258339/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076166&Signature=VB~IHbZyo7hkcIW4oLh26FT17imMrTNLJuHjhvaCPgxqhxEY~e1vwE6YULkxL8tAxhUlvFiteh~WUp2Kwy4vJGLvVaa-Iet6TsepxQnsaefdZVaLJd1cOEHQ701lA91mV9-D~H2jb7q-lBFfLBnifYxtbtl-CkstPcbS1Bvgjn8WPLTNzEP7aTo6cfLWlSMkIdYBGCgrEl0x7zEf9Uoc874Li7tv57h0HReqR2kLP6hZ9ojtk3GE-WlxuCtsoXBXQtiHjSHoO4LzEaRiXaaGRrkMzwcGSR6NfHmQv0ZlHMRqC7QFsTT6z~s7vj6uAuIEPWyEcKbqJeEepxKNQoAD6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Here are the formal actions the Alexander County Board of Commissioners recorded at its Feb. 3 regular meeting.

- Reappraisal resolution (Item 8): Motion to advance the county's appraisal schedule from Jan. 1, 2031 to Jan. 1, 2027 and to implement reappraisals every four years. Motion carried unanimously. (See separate article for presentation and discussion details.)

- Budget ordinance amendments 23-24 (Item 9): Motion to approve budget ordinance amendments for supplies at the Health Department, a $1,000 adjustment for DSS/United Way grant expenses, and a decrease to the Hancock and Moore building renovation project budget. Motion carried unanimously.

- Consent agenda: Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

- Closed session and adjournment: The board moved into closed session under North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) 143-318.11(4),(5),(6) for economic development, contractual and personnel matters and then adjourned from closed session. Motions carried by unanimous voice vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.

The meeting record shows unanimous voice approvals for each item; individual roll-call votes or named tallies were not included in the transcript.","The Alexander County Board of Commissioners recorded several unanimous actions at its Feb. 3 meeting, including advancing the property reappraisal schedule and approving budget amendments and the consent agenda.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6355775,"Bethlehem residents say incorporation will protect rural character; organizers report key milestones cleared",190,718000,908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a&start=718&end=908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a/thumbnail_718000.jpg","/articles/6355775/Alexander-County/North-Carolina/Bethlehem-residents-say-incorporation-will-protect-rural-character-organizers-report-key-milestones-cleared","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355775-f0651ac615c1bb414e883f3e3eac4a5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076166&Signature=VNS0G~YfPTVDOhEk6cBtPHGVA7W0fX9IpFCEpX1zJpw70BPEGhckPhxfvDCoVVtqDBYu2pTKikyqtasB6d4XLGmHtYa4opUPK3Uxp24~c9-hjk0rb5-iWaWqz-x1cwiZ9poZc5IhQ3fL2VHfDIr3eFG1HrXr4RnyQyA6~aEzuQyaJU6wqoGdYu4Ws1gmbFX0B3WTS0kOqjoYkLbdmFh873YsXi-~BBHHs6OlDEyp-1yBg9seju4hs6KTrjdi6N4HlAdASzWQZO5sGphVlVRLAImN0C6slvAkSSTSX6YgoTymjPgaPC~hTHuUhJWKIy~oEzO6bJHAol3fJCScRWDoaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and organizers for the proposed town of Bethlehem updated the Alexander County Board of Commissioners Feb. 3 on their incorporation effort and urged support for local control over land use.

Don Taylor, who said he represents incorporation organizers, told the board the group is in the \"final stages\" of incorporation. He said petition signatures have been certified by the board of elections, the City of Hickory has notified organizers it will not oppose incorporation, a town charter and boundaries have been drafted and a bill ready for the General Assembly has been prepared. \"This is not just about process. It's about our community, our future, and ensuring that, the residents of Bethlehem, have a voice in shaping the direction of our town,\" Taylor said.

Marie Taylor, identified as an interim commissioner for the soon-to-be incorporated town of Bethlehem, responded to what she called circulating misinformation and said the movement includes more than 1,000 supporters from a mix of longtime and newer residents. \"The goal of the incorporation is not to shut down development or prevent growth,\" Marie Taylor said. She said incorporation would give residents authority to decide where and how to invest in the town and to preserve farmland and community character.

Both speakers said the effort is intended to provide local control over future housing density and to ensure tax revenue benefits local residents. Don Taylor said the group is working with the North Carolina Local Government Commission on a required financial certificate and expects to submit the final incorporation packet to the municipal incorporation subcommittee once certification is complete.

The remarks came during the public-comment portion of the meeting; the Board of Commissioners did not take action on the incorporation packet at this meeting.","Organizers seeking to incorporate the community of Bethlehem told the Alexander County Board of Commissioners they have cleared key procedural steps and are pursuing a financial certificate to complete incorporation.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":78,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6355781,"Alexander County commissioners approve moving reappraisal to four-year cycle, effective Jan. 1, 2027",992,2384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a&start=2384&end=3376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217902-76f4b1008f4250ff3351830a8b68c63a/thumbnail_2384000.jpg","/articles/6355781/Alexander-County/North-Carolina/Alexander-County-commissioners-approve-moving-reappraisal-to-four-year-cycle-effective-Jan-1-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355781-fbb446217bbe1e1216975a3d869275c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076166&Signature=UhnDfZIU9HpcecHMw4Atq6JnBVXC2XucsopTsoEEYRW9Oxsea~QkqgS0S6eKfn~SfnFXX9CPTrb0~oq60D0rpn~sNl-EYbdYM3Ak-TJPTMY1WiIxijpfzsfBHJe7ZbZUzQ~bNmvvMDvHDC9jV1L-b9qs8DMmuGO0Ge2s7j3Vk8KqbVjNH8MMSN-a6PE6CqfttBi9EtJ4zWHnGaC05gs1qF0HgvOrcpaS6heCFSlPTreQ9pQslcQJLrRr5bN7ns9ONIOPw31K3MTfZ~ycByUZF5sYlGP0siQ-uZiyO4K7akUgBavRwMu0vouN1dh6CGSIgprS4uRmh08Lqj-1PsBh0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alexander County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 3 to advance the county's next property reappraisal from Jan. 1, 2031 to Jan. 1, 2027 and to implement subsequent reappraisals every four years.

County Manager Todd Herms said the change would spread valuation increases over a shorter period and reduce large, sudden tax increases for property owners. \"I'm not advocating that people pay more taxes,\" Herms told commissioners during a presentation that included comparisons with neighboring counties. He said counties on a four-year cycle tend to have lower average tax rates and that more frequent reappraisals improve accuracy.

Herms presented estimated costs for different approaches. He said a full, on-site measure-and-list revaluation done every four years would be costly; the county would not recommend full on-site inspections at that frequency. He gave an estimate of $891,000 for a full measure cycle (noting that figure did not include some in-house costs) and estimated a contract cost \"around $300,000\" for a subsequent four-year cycle if done on a reduced-scope basis.

Herms also reviewed statewide practice: 51 North Carolina counties conduct four-year cycles while 32 use an eight-year cycle. He said the county's earlier schedule left Alexander County as an outlier among neighbors and increased the potential for larger valuation adjustments at the next reappraisal.

Multiple commissioners spoke in favor of the change, saying a four-year cycle would be fairer to residents and would reduce the budgeting shock that can follow an extended reevaluation period. A county commissioner explained the relationship between valuation and rate, noting that higher valuations allow for lower tax rates and urging that the adoption be viewed as fiscal planning rather than a tax increase.

The resolution approved by the board sets the effective valuation date at Jan. 1, 2027 and directs staff to implement reappraisals every four years thereafter. The board recorded the motion and carried it by unanimous voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

The county manager said the change would give county leaders a clearer picture of the tax base for capital planning and budgeting. Implementation details, including the scope of field work and the contractor procurement plan, will be determined by staff and reported back to the board.","The Alexander County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to advance the county's property reappraisal schedule from 2031 to Jan. 1, 2027 and to adopt a four-year reappraisal cycle going forward. County staff presented cost estimates and said the change aims to reduce \"sticker shock\" for property owners and improve accuracy of valuations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DSS director outlines Special Children Adoption Incentive Fund; county asked to consider participation

Votes at a glance: Alexander County commissioners pass reappraisal resolution and approve budget amendments, consent agenda and closed-session motion

Bethlehem residents say incorporation will protect rural character; organizers report key milestones cleared

Alexander County commissioners approve moving reappraisal to four-year cycle, effective Jan. 1, 2027