Macon County reviews $39 million school capital ask; approves four new paramedic positions and ambulance remount

Macon County commissioners continued a FY2025-26 budget work session on May 22, 2025, hearing multi-million-dollar requests from Macon County Schools, Southwestern Community College, fire and rescue districts and the county solid-waste program. The board voted unanimously to add four paramedic positions and fund an ambulance remount with the difference taken from fund balance.

Josh Lynch, superintendent of Macon County Schools, presented three budget perspectives—maintain current operations, top priorities and expansion—and identified capital outlay requests totaling $39,010,269.15, including a new East Franklin Elementary School and a planned conversion of the Highlands School soccer field to synthetic turf. Alayna Ledford, chief financial officer for the school system, outlined requests for pay increases and school-lunch funding. County Manager Warren Cabe said his proposed budget tries to preserve certain items on a “maintain current operations” basis, noting a $400,000 increase in that line that represents 17.9% of the overall proposed budget. Commissioner Shearl urged the board to adopt a fixed-percentage approach to future school funding so the school system can plan ahead; Cabe said he could prepare future proposals on that basis but cautioned amounts will depend on debt service and tax estimates.

Dr. Don Tomas, president of Southwestern Community College, asked for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, capital funds, a deferred maintenance allowance and replacement of a modular facility, and provided a handout citing N.C.G.S. 115D-32 on county budgeting responsibilities for community colleges. Davenport consultant Mitch Brigulio told the board the Solid Waste capital improvement plan for FY26 totals $2.3 million and that “zero” of that request fit into the proposed budget; Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl presented five‑year average tonnage growth showing waste is rising at roughly three times previous projections. County Manager Cabe described the absence of a prior C.I.P. for the landfill and recommended establishing a multi-year plan.

Several volunteer fire and rescue districts asked for rate increases or tax changes to cover apparatus and operations. Cindy Watts, chair of the Otto Volunteer Fire and Rescue board, requested raising the millage rate to $0.0723 but agreed with Cabe that a county lease payment for EMS space in Otto—if included in the county budget—could eliminate the need for that increase. Jack Baird, chair of Cullasaja Gorge Fire and Rescue, said the department operates four trucks (model years 1994–2019), plans to move two to a new substation, and noted that a truck ordered two years ago cost “over $443,000.” Cullasaja requested a one-cent tax increase to purchase two trucks; the board took no action on those requests during the session. Representatives of Burningtown‑Iotla Fire and Rescue reported recent leadership resignations after inspections, described the department as being on probation and asked for time to work on a local solution rather than forcing a merger by July 1; Cowee Volunteer Fire and Rescue indicated willingness to assist with some responses.

Jeremy Cabe, EMS supervisor, told the board the department had originally requested a new ambulance at a cost of $384,000 but sought instead to use part of that budget for an ambulance remount and dedicate the remainder to staffing. “We asked for a new ambulance in the budget at a cost of $384,000,” Cabe said; he proposed reallocating part of that amount toward hiring additional full‑time staff. Commissioner Shields moved and Commissioner Breeden seconded a motion to add four paramedic positions and fund an ambulance remount, with the difference coming from fund balance; the board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The minutes record that the motion passed unanimously but do not provide a numerical roll call in the transcript.

Chairman Young framed the session as an opportunity to give direction to the County Manager and Finance Director; commissioners continued discussion on school funding and other budget priorities without taking further formal action. The board recessed at 2:30 p.m. and scheduled its next session for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2025.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the board’s guidance into the proposed FY2025‑26 budget for additional review at the continued session on May 28, 2025.