Spencer board warns of budget gap if county redirects school SRO funding

Town of Spencer officials told the town board on Tuesday that a county-level push to place school resource officers in all elementary schools could shift funding away from the town's current SRO positions and create immediate budget pressures.

An agency official representing the town's public safety team said the town currently budgets a school-contributed revenue line of about $250,000 to cover three SRO positions, and that the school system's intention is to return funding to a countywide model once Knox Middle School reopens. "We have our current in our current year budget, we have a revenue line from the schools of about $250,000 to cover those 3 SRO positions," the agency official said. "If those funds go back, it becomes a significant budget implication coming up for us this year that we're gonna have to address." (Agency official)

The official and board members said Rowan County is discussing a plan to expand SRO coverage to every elementary school in the county, a change that could require rapid hiring and training. Board members noted logistical hurdles: the grant that currently helps fund the town's SRO does not open until August, mandatory SRO training takes time under state law, and hiring dozens of officers within weeks would be unrealistic.

Chair (S1) framed the choice in budget terms, saying the town would either need to reassign or fully pick up the cost of officers currently covered in partnership with the school system. "If they then put the bill back on us— then it becomes an issue," the chair said. "These are county-funded operations. The county should be paying for all of it."

Board members raised concerns about operational risks if SRO oversight shifts to the sheriff's office or another county-level model: they said cross-agency communications and responsibility for county property located inside town limits would need clarification. One member warned that adding SRO costs to the town's budget could force the town to freeze other positions, undermining plans for improved 24-hour road supervision and other staffing goals.

Officials said they will seek more information from the Rowan County mayor's group and the county manager in the coming days; the chair said the group would receive an update and the town's representatives would report back. The board did not take a vote on policy changes during the meeting; members said they wanted more detail before any formal decision.

What happens next: The board expects an update from the county and school system at its next regular meeting; town staff and members said they will press county leaders to clarify funding responsibilities before accepting additional local costs.