Gates County commissioners approve conditional $50,000 commitment to help extend school daycare, impose accountability requirements

The Gates County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a conditional resolution to provide supplemental emergency funding to extend the New Beginnings day care program, setting a county cap of $50,000 and requiring shared monthly allocations with the Gates County School District.

County Manager Scott Sauer framed the request by noting the board’s priority that “access to safe, affordable, high quality childcare for working parents is a top priority.” Sauer told commissioners the childcare fund has shown recurring deficits over five years and that audits include a combined childcare-fund deficit of $444,394. The draft resolution noted a $25,000 loan recorded in October 2025 that was made to the childcare fund.

Under the resolution the board will not use county funds to retire the $25,000 loan. Instead, if the board approves a budget amendment, monthly operating deficits beginning January 2026 would be shared 50/50 between the county and the school district, with county contributions not to exceed $50,000 in the aggregate. County distributions will be made only upon receipt of the school district’s latest cash-flow report, staffing levels and student counts.

The resolution also requires immediate cost-control measures by the school district, specifically staff reductions identified in the draft (two part-time positions and one co-director position) and other accountability steps. The board’s draft cites North Carolina’s school budget and fiscal control act, writing the statute name as it appeared in staff materials: “North Carolina's school budget and fiscal control act, North Carolina general statute 1 15 4 29 d.” The manager and several commissioners stressed that the county is not relinquishing oversight of county funds: commissioners said requests for county support must be paired with fiscal corrective actions by the school system.

Commissioners who spoke described both the urgency of maintaining child-care capacity and the need for fiscal accountability. Commissioner Dave Forsyth said, “I don't believe in throwing good money after bad,” while other commissioners said the board must help preserve childcare that supports the local workforce but only while the schools demonstrate steps to rein in spending and present a plan for returning to fiscal stability.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made, seconded and approved unanimously by show of hands. The resolution sets the county’s cap at $50,000 and requires the schools to provide monthly reporting; staff will prepare any necessary budget amendment and documentation for the board to authorize disbursements.