Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Funding Model topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pitt County commissioners vote to switch school funding from lump‑sum to by‑purpose model
Summary
The Pitt County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously March 26 to move Pitt County Schools from lump‑sum to by‑purpose funding, a change county leaders said will increase transparency; the board discussed implementation details and a return threshold for significant changes.
The Pitt County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously March 26 to change the county’s method of funding Pitt County Schools from lump‑sum allocations to a by‑purpose model. The motion was moved by Commissioner Rochelle Brown and seconded by Commissioner Chris W. Nunnally.
County Manager Janis Gallagher told the Board that departments submitted capital requests following a November 2025 budget kick‑off and that Chief Financial Officer Michael Hardy would present the county’s recommendations. Gallagher said schools traditionally submit budgets “by purpose” but that the county historically approves the schools as a single lump sum; under the new approach, she said, the School Board will continue to present its operational budget by purpose and the County will approve those purposes, with any changes above an agreed threshold returning to the Board for review.
Commissioner Nunnally said his chief concern about a by‑purpose model was the potential “shift in power” between the elected School Board and the Board of Commissioners, but he said he supports the change because it adds transparency that is “missing in the current system.” Commissioner Mary Perkins‑Williams asked whether the new approach would hold the School Board to its original requests; Gallagher replied that by‑purpose funding would do so.
Gallagher referenced information presented by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners showing by‑purpose budgeting as a transparency practice shared among counties. The Board voted without objection to adopt the by‑purpose funding model and directed staff to return with any needed implementation details and thresholds.
Votes at a glance
• Motion: Switch from lump‑sum to by‑purpose funding for Pitt County Schools — Moved by Commissioner Rochelle Brown; seconded by Commissioner Chris W. Nunnally; outcome: passed unanimously.
What happens next
Gallagher said the county will present the by‑purpose approach again as staff develops the mechanics, including any thresholds for changes that would require Board approval. Chairman Mark Smith said the Board would take time to digest the presentations and bring items back for further discussion if needed.
