Gates County says it asked state auditor to review school finances after day‑care subsidy concerns

Speakers described fiscal strain tied to a low tax base and continuing school finance questions. Speaker 8 said the county’s governing body had sent a letter to the state auditor seeking outside assistance to ensure fiscal management and resource allocation were appropriate.

The meeting included an account that over a five‑year period the school system had subsidized a private day‑care operation by about $440,000; commissioners said the subsidy and related accounting prompted increased scrutiny and led the county to ask the auditor for help. "One of the last actions of the governing body in Gates County for the year 2025 was to send a letter to the state auditor to come in and ask for some assistance," Speaker 8 said.

Commissioners also referenced state-supported school lottery projects and said those funds required county cooperation to reach local vendors, noting about $14,000,000 in state-appropriated lottery funds was discussed at the meeting (figured cited by participants in the session). No formal vote on taking further legal steps was recorded during the workshop.

Why it matters: participants said tighter fiscal review is important given limited county revenue (a penny of tax reportedly raises about $100,000) and ongoing debate with the local school board about facilities and staffing. Commissioners discussed using association resources and the state auditor’s review to clarify accounting and options before making additional policy decisions.

Next steps: staff and commissioners said they would await the auditor’s input and continue budget planning on the county timetable.