[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6555119,"mediaKeyId","3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0","parentId",3847737,"title","County hears presentation from 1 More 1 Less on church-focused foster care recruitment","audioSeconds",337,"startMs",1177000,"endMs",1514000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0&start=1177&end=1514","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0/thumbnail_1177000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555119/Burke-County/North-Carolina/County-hears-presentation-from-1-More-1-Less-on-church-focused-foster-care-recruitment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555119-6a56a4d18a58ba376567dee50b3522b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775865182&Signature=AITZh~jsPABC8enmpJ6FYN4noGxL4bAqJhrcKyGdV7nBqjMspEXe3u8eGiMWBKk3BDlDMhcQC-5Pzhg-25WyMjhNRAwifVEKUPrHv9gT4BWlnRUgtFW7gndsLIhhWJR-oVEmjtsU6hgZ3oEaVaFEp74A-PDQadd2K8DtSL05L09xZV3KsrN03lUpCi7jjUyxK179XvZ-qvJbQ6IwxUpHPX6TR~x1fr9TMBO~VImOjq60G3Z0fYEuwjygbrqrpvKc44BUWDklXsp~ZWxWZkb9UBvdnKC~Y5P6WoeBLMMSsGlkXQaGPmFmKh3w68vfdDupYKn8xcYE~G0gq02I92Rwog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burke County, NC","date","2025-06-17T12:17:16Z","article","The Burke County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation on June 16 from Jeff Marburger of 1 More 1 Less, a nonprofit that works to recruit, support and pair local churches with foster families to help children in county custody. County Manager Brian Eppley introduced the group and said staff would invite local partners to future meetings for further discussion.

Marburger described his organization’s church-based model, said the group seeks two “champion” churches per county to build local networks, and recounted results from Cleveland County where his group has partnered with local agencies and the Guardian ad Litem program. He said the organization focuses on recruitment, reunification supports and transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care.

Marburger told commissioners that, according to an April report he referenced, there were about 188 children in Department of Social Services custody in Burke County; another speaker during the discussion referenced “181 kids here” in a county comment. The presentation emphasized church volunteers and local parsonages as potential resources for emergency or transitional housing and described programs to prepare youth aging out of care for independent living.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff said recruitment and retention of licensed foster families is a county priority because children placed outside the county or far from home can face additional disruption. The county manager said the board has struggled to recruit and retain licensed foster parents and is working to launch a local campaign.

Board response: commissioners thanked the presenters and expressed support for further engagement with churches and local agencies; no formal action or funding was taken at the meeting.

Ending: County staff said they will continue inviting local partners to brief the board as the county coordinates foster-care recruitment and support efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 16, 2025 Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A nonprofit called 1 More 1 Less spoke to the commission about recruiting and supporting foster families through local churches; staff said about 181–188 children are currently in Department of Social Services care locally.","taxTitle","Burke County, North Carolina","taxId",51046,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555123,"Commissioners authorize county manager to negotiate HRC renovation contract with Holland & Hamrick",939,2797000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0&start=2797&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0/thumbnail_2797000.jpg","/articles/6555123/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-authorize-county-manager-to-negotiate-HRC-renovation-contract-with-Holland-Hamrick","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555123-3bded5bd07918297f22f1ce173fb036e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775865182&Signature=hSFIXl~jxmhRyH90kvwVkNAkdAGrYNWWSJabFgDx4ZBsJwQJGT~5pAWsCYyxlDCAB~Rl-KptdPFlgbgDTTbuXnL3OZbg6WqcDV4a1rsEX~haFrsoq4aLQtq8RRFVdbCYTshPVeRQySOTxE1clXABH5~Rpk9SxBTSxYLS4gnonzJM7P5iI15BA7kCuwVvbEfYMFqn6MIvUSOXHppA6~01SGO1W7ri2RYIkWxffRLe43nL1-8Ba~hhofKqzHnjvwl6uBgWNC~17VQPXCKRpX8P7qoPWVLXjbMLd41P553a19s-Uuz59jeid1OR3ho0gG4OOqOPfm0gzwWyThKopLI2ZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Commissioners on June 16 authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Holland & Hamrick Architects PA to provide architectural and civil engineering services for the Health and Human Services Building renovation (the HRC project). The board recorded the motion and approved it by a 4–0 vote.

County Manager Brian Eppley described the HRC building as roughly 62,000 square feet, in continued county use, and identified an adaptive-reuse, phased renovation as the preferred approach. He told the board the project is likely to be delivered using a single-prime procurement model to reduce costs and limit layered administration during construction. Eppley estimated a combined design and construction schedule that could deliver substantial completion by Dec. 31, 2027, and said additional federal or state funding applications remain possible, though debt financing is an option if needed.

Why it matters: the building houses both Social Services (about 199 full-time equivalents) and Public Health (about 50 FTEs) and is a central county facility; a phased adaptive-reuse is intended to maximize usable space while allowing continued operation during construction.

Details from staff: county staff issued a request for qualifications following the Mini-Brooks Act. Five firms responded; the selection committee shortlisted The Sizemore Group and Holland & Hamrick and invited both to present. Holland & Hamrick was recommended based on prior public-sector experience, in-house construction administration capacity and demonstrated experience on similar projects.

Motion and vote: the motion authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute the contract subject to county-attorney review and allowed the manager to negotiate with Sizemore Group if no agreement is reached with Holland & Hamrick. The motion was moved and passed with a recorded 4–0 vote.

Next steps: the county manager and county attorney will finalize contract language with Holland & Hamrick. Staff will return to the board with contract terms and a project schedule and will manage phased logistics to keep Social Services and Public Health operational during renovation.

Ending: Commissioners thanked staff for the procurement and selection work and approved the manager’s authority to finalize the design contract.","Burke County authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Holland & Hamrick Architects for design and civil engineering of an adaptive-reuse renovation of the Health & Human Services building.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555126,"Burke County adopts $116.2 million FY2025-26 budget; approves school agreement and nonprofit funding",1997,1864000,3861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0&start=1864&end=3861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847737-32d4a3c3d0708112d86cedb87d3baab0/thumbnail_1864000.jpg","/articles/6555126/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-adopts-1162-million-FY2025-26-budget-approves-school-agreement-and-nonprofit-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555126-3175b62026a22b14a262b6b275dba58e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775865182&Signature=B-2QmzufNG0NWO3IVXZhcdYfzuXtIbZJlM~tLBkTVXw5y3Mu9W3Had6x5mDlG0sL3-JrdJ12ZpGQ-y-2ySNLpt2cSJiuXcyOi9jSslvB0ZHbVvKA9CPSsAUDEbRc6c8bSONCFXDKuklUkpae1T-l29ZZWib69dmyLulhFPruenj9jEM2r6A4kQngU-RWMAYRwddwNQsTFoo5igYtwAeNJY8mgA1kgVUMJ57dGLMMPNXtwOWwpgREVapnE4IzzfKu4FIVsU0m~q5DBWBzDxv7wvuTm7sEkbpNNaW718iWPUYIrFTtdCGWF5E7pbpXjfGoGFw7G~BR7grnmqRnsihscg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Commissioners on June 16 adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget ordinance (No. 2025-07), approving a $116,200,000 general-fund spending plan that trims the proposed property tax rate to 55.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and funds education, public safety and other priorities.

County Manager Brian Eppley told the board the budget is “balanced on 55 and a half cents” and described the plan as built around a multiyear strategic effort to “react, rebuild, rethink” county services. Eppley said the budget allocates about $20.5 million to Burke County Public Schools and proposes a 2.25% cost-of-living adjustment across county payroll.

Why it matters: the ordinance steadies the county’s capital and operating plans amid continuing inflationary pressures and revenue uncertainty. Eppley said the county manufactured about $8.5 million of budget flexibility over three years and is targeting economic development, service improvements and modest tax relief.

Key details: the adopted general fund totals $116.2 million; property tax is about 52.9% of total revenue; projected property value growth used in the budget is roughly 1.96%; the budget contemplates $32,289,000 in gross payroll and a 2.25% COLA recommendation; Burke County Public Schools allocation is $20,500,000; the county proposes a household solid-waste fee increase from $88 to $92 and a monthly sewer availability charge increase from $25 to $30.

The budget document also incorporates several policy and program priorities referenced by Eppley, including continued capital plan work, support for volunteer fire departments, a proposed citizens academy, and renewed emphasis on economic development projects such as a speculative industrial shell building and hangars at the Hickory airport. Eppley said solid-waste and water/sewer enterprise funds are being managed to improve self-sufficiency.

The board heard no speakers during the budget public hearing before taking votes on the budget and related items. Commissioners recorded a series of motions tied to the budget, including a memorandum of agreement with the Burke County Board of Education and approvals of nonprofit allocations included in the adopted budget.

Votes at a glance:
- Adopt fiscal year 2025-26 Budget Ordinance No. 2025-07 (motion by Commissioner Stroud): adopted (tally reported 4–0). The motion text was recorded as a motion to adopt the fiscal year 25–26 budget ordinance number 2025-07 as presented. (Transcript: topicintro at 1864.99; topfinish at 3750.29.)
- Approve memorandum of agreement between Burke County and the Burke County Board of Education for FY25-26 (motion by Commissioner Burns): approved (tally reported 4–0). (Transcript: topicintro at 3768.63; topfinish at 3778.79.)
- Approve funding for nonprofits as set forth in the FY25-26 budget (BDI vote taken separately; VETIC deferred): the board approved funding for the nonprofits listed in the budget with the exception of Burke Development Inc. (BDI) and VETIC (motion to approve all other nonprofit funding by Commissioner Burns): adopted (tally reported 4–0). A separate motion to approve BDI funding was moved and the board handled recusals for that vote; the VETIC funding vote was held for a future meeting due to recusal/quorum concerns. (Transcript: topicintro at 3800.90; topfinish at 3966.145.)

Discussion and context: Eppley’s presentation stressed conservative revenue forecasting, diversified revenue sources and an emphasis on human-capital investments after the county’s multiyear prioritization process. He noted growth in investment income over recent years and said the budget does not rely on volatile investment returns. Eppley warned of inflationary pressures, rising contract and insurance costs, and a roughly $1.3 million estimated inflationary increase in operating costs in the coming year.

What the board directed: commissioners did not reopen the budget for additional public comment after the hearing and proceeded to vote. The county attorney advised, during a separate discussion about recusals and quorum rules, that items where two commissioners are recused may lack the necessary quorum and should be deferred; the board followed that guidance for VETIC funding.

Next steps: the budget ordinance and the associated memorandum of agreement with the Board of Education will be executed and implementation will begin under county management. The BDI funding item was handled with recusal recorded; VETIC funding will be scheduled when a sufficient number of commissioners can participate in the vote.

Ending: Commissioners closed the budget public hearing after no members of the public spoke and approved the package of motions tied to the FY25-26 budget during the June 16 meeting.","The Burke County Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget on June 16, setting a 55.5¢ property tax rate, allocating $20.5 million to public schools and approving several related funding motions and agreements.","actionData","errors"]

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County hears presentation from 1 More 1 Less on church-focused foster care recruitment

Commissioners authorize county manager to negotiate HRC renovation contract with Holland & Hamrick

Burke County adopts $116.2 million FY2025-26 budget; approves school agreement and nonprofit funding