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Sampson County adopts joint school funding formula to provide earlier budget certainty
Summary
The county adopted a funding agreement with Sampson County Schools and Clinton City Schools that sets county operating support at 25% of certain local revenues and allocates funds pro rata by student population; both school boards had approved the agreement earlier the same day.
The Sampson County Board of Commissioners on May 20 adopted a jointly agreed current-expense funding agreement with Sampson County Schools and Clinton City Schools, authorizing the board chairman to sign the policy on the county's behalf.
Under the adopted agreement the county will set its annual operating contribution for the two school systems at 25 percent of the sum of all property tax revenues and all sales tax revenues received by Sampson County in the immediately preceding calendar year, excluding amounts specifically designated by state statute for education. The total county contribution will be divided between Sampson County Schools and Clinton City Schools pro rata based on the most recent student population count (the best of the first two months of enrollment), with equal installment payments beginning July 15 each year.
Interim County Manager Hudson told commissioners the measure is intended to give school systems and county staff earlier certainty when building budgets. Hudson said the Sampson County Board of Education unanimously approved the funding formula earlier in the day and Clinton City Schools gave its unanimous approval last week. After brief discussion the board voted to adopt the agreement and authorized the chairman to sign.
What the formula does and does not do - It sets a county funding methodology for annual operating support (referred to in the document as 'current expense' funding). - It ties funding to the prior calendar year's property and sales tax receipts (less statutorily earmarked amounts) and divides the total by student population share. - It does not change state or federally mandated funding streams; nor does it by itself set specific dollar amounts for the coming fiscal year (those are finalized in the county budget process), although the formula provides the calculation approach to determine the county's share.
Implementation and timeline - Payments under the formula are to be made in equal installments beginning July 15; the initial term will extend through the next budget determination period and the agreement provides for automatic one-year renewals unless a party provides written termination notice at least five months prior to July 1.
Speakers and procedural notes - Interim County Manager Hudson presented the agreement and read select passages describing 'current expense' funding and the calculation method. - The board moved to adopt the policy and authorized the chairman to sign; the motion carried.
Why it matters The formula aims to provide the two local school systems with predictable county operating revenue earlier in the budget cycle, which county staff said helps both boards and the county budget officer plan more effectively.
Provenance (excerpt): the funding formula discussion begins with the county manager's presentation and ends with the adoption and signing ceremony later in the meeting.
