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Greene County commissioners approve opioid settlement participation, narrowly back resolution opposing state limits on tax authority
Summary
At a regular session commissioners unanimously authorized participation in an expanded opioid settlement and voted 3-2 to approve a resolution opposing state limits on county property tax authority. The Board also voted to withdraw some services from the East Carolina Council of Governments and reappointed three Planning Board members.
Greene County commissioners approved several measures at a regular meeting, including unanimous authorization to participate in an expanded opioid settlement, a 3-2 vote adopting a resolution opposing proposed state changes to county property tax authority, unanimous withdrawal from certain non-aging services of the East Carolina Council of Governments, and unanimous reappointment of three members to the Planning Board.
The county manager introduced a resolution to authorize Greene County to accept disbursements from a newly-added defendant in the opioid litigation and asked the Board to name the county manager to act as the county's lead for receipt of those funds over the coming 18 years. A motion to approve the resolution was made and carried unanimously.
A separate resolution, drafted by the Association of County Commissioners and asking counties to oppose legislative modifications to county property tax powers, drew extended debate. One commissioner argued that the Board should not take a premature position while details of any reform remain unsettled and said a levy-limit approach includes voter approval as an override; the same speaker cited a John Locke Foundation figure while urging the Board to remain at the table as reforms are shaped. That commissioner said, "I feel that passing this resolution puts us on the record against a reform that 77% of North Carolinians support," and said he would vote against the resolution. Other commissioners framed the resolution as a defense of local control and county fiscal stewardship. The Board voted 3 in favor and 2 opposed to adopt the resolution.
Commissioners also voted unanimously to withdraw Greene County from certain services provided by the East Carolina Council of Governments, retaining only the aging services that are required because of federal funding rules. The motion summary at the meeting said withdrawal would shift responsibilities for the RPO and some economic development coordination directly to the county and its regional partners.
On appointments, the Board accepted staff recommendations to reappoint John Grant, Henry Lanier and Leslie Moore to the Planning Board; the motion carried by voice vote.
The meeting included ceremonial recognitions: recipients of the Governor's Volunteer Service Award from Greene County were acknowledged (Samantha Gay, Virginia Thomas, Dorothy and Chester Harrison, and Greene Central FFA). Greene Central FFA members said their chapter contributed 288 volunteer hours to the county animal shelter this past year.
The Board moved into closed session later in the meeting and adjourned after returning to open session.
Votes from the meeting (as recorded verbally at the meeting): The agenda and consent items were approved by voice vote (unanimous); the opioid settlement participation resolution passed unanimously; the property tax authority resolution passed, yes 3 - no 2; the COG withdrawal resolution passed unanimously; Planning Board reappointments passed unanimously.
