Alamance County approves MOU with school system after closed‑session negotiations; FY2026 budget amendment passes 4‑1

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the local school system and a companion FY2026 budget amendment after extended debate about the use of closed‑session negotiations and public disclosure.

Commissioner Priola opposed both actions, saying he did not agree with the settlement terms and that his vote in closed session was not recorded. “I did not agree to the MOU that is at issue for these … budget items,” Commissioner Priola said during the meeting. County attorneys and staff said the closed‑session process used — negotiating settlement terms in private under the statute authorizing attorney‑client and settlement discussions — was lawful and that the board had reported the outcome in the closed‑session minutes.

The county attorney told commissioners he had spoken individually with each commissioner after the closed session and that four commissioners gave approval to proceed; the attorney said the signed agreement differs from the unsigned draft shown in closed session only by the addition of the date and signatures. The chair called the question after discussion and recorded the settlement approval as 4‑1.

The board then considered budget amendment 1 for fiscal year 2025–26, which includes appropriations tied to the settlement and other items. After additional debate — including objections from Priola that the county lacked some requested school financial detail — the board approved the FY2026 amendment by a 4‑1 vote.

Commissioners who supported the measures said private negotiations were needed to reach a better settlement outcome and that the closed‑session reporting and the posted agreement satisfied legal requirements. Opponents said that given the size of the expenditure, the board should have taken a recorded public vote in open session.

The county attorney said he plans to read the agreement publicly and that the signed MOU was attached to the minutes of the June 20 school board meeting. County staff said the MOU includes a requirement that the school system make documentation about appropriations available upon request and that funds paid under the agreement are subject to the county’s accounting and auditing procedures.

The board’s vote ends the immediate dispute over process; commissioners also discussed the need for clearer agenda timelines so members have adequate time for due diligence on items introduced late.

Looking ahead, the county attorney said he would read the signed agreement into the public record at the meeting to make the terms explicit and ensure compliance with the statute requiring disclosure of settlement terms after a closed session.