1-26-2023 BOC Board Retreat Meeting Minutes - Day 1

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needing to get the Moore Center online and finding money for that. Last year, 80 counties lost population, but Lee grew about 1.6%. County Manager Dr. John Crumpton asked if the Senate was working on any solutions for mental health. Senator Burgin said Medicaid expansion, would provide $ 1 billion to mental health. He said they need to find the right mix of services to the counties. He noted that he was able to allocate $800,000 to organizations in Lee County. The Senator said Veterans Services are also needed and that General Gaskins and the Secretary of Defense have been talking about the Veterans Affairs situation because there are large military populations with mental health issues and PTSD. The City of Sanford had police tied up for six months because they had to supervise an individual with mental health issues at the hospital. Commissioner Carver asked about public defenders. Senator Burgin said we don't have interested individuals willing to be a public defender because the pay is not enough, but they've been talking about putting one in each county. Dr. Crumpton mentioned that we have one person who's been in the Lee County jail for six years and that there is some overcrowding, as we have 32 waiting for trial. Senator Burgin is working on a bill to eliminate personal income tax over a 7-year period, as well as a bill that allows the education money to follow the child wherever they move. There are various bills about health care. The average person in jail gets seven continuances because attorneys are waiting to get paid to move forward. Senator Burgin wants it changed to three continuances and to allow video conferencing to help move things along. It costs around$100 per day to house a person in our jail. NC daycare and Pre- K facilities are decreasing, but a bill is being introduced next week to alleviate some of the STAR requirements to allow facilities to make fixes rather than just shutting them down. There is also a bill for statewide year-round schools, which would save billions of dollars on school construction that could be poured into teachers and technology and a bill to change the start date of public schools to allow an earlier completion date and to allow students to complete exams before the Christmas break. Commissioner Reives left the at 6:32 p.m. Senator Burgin indicated that he believed local school districts should have the ability to choose and set the school year calendar. Three counties that have already changed their calendars. The Senator has talked to Board of Education Chair Sherry Lynn Womack about this and he would support it, as it would allow exams to be finished before Christmas and allow seniors to enter community college early if eligible. Representative Sauls is the chair of the Commerce committee and there are so many potential projects looking at our state. Rep. Sauls is also the chair of the Ethics committee and so far, they've never had to meet. His number one agenda item is the community college system. Community colleges don't have hired lobbyists and shouldn't have to do so. Salaries need to increase, and he had a bill recommending a 7% increase for staff. North Carolina has the best community college system and ours, Central Carolina Community College, is at the heart of it. Rep. Sauls is also on the Energy and Utilities committee and Finance committee. He said his job is to be an advocate for his district.