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Senator Jim Burgin encouraged the County to look into Senator Tom Tillis'grants. The <br /> N.C. State Senators each received a special appropriation, and Senator Burgin was <br /> allotted $2 million. He divided that by the population he serves and allocated $550,000 to <br /> Lee County. Senator Burgin advised that since Medicaid expansion began on December <br /> 1, 2023, 273,000 people were automatically enrolled and 39,000 prescriptions were filled <br /> within the first 30 days. Central Carolina Hospital received a large sum of money from <br /> Medicaid expansion due to 1.2 billion being allocated to hospitals throughout North <br /> Carolina. Medicaid expansion brings $40 million per month to North Carolina. Senator <br /> Burgin is also working on LME/MCO consolidation and the State Health Plan and will <br /> lead Medicaid joint committee meetings. <br /> Representative John Sauls is serving his sixth term in the N.C. State House and is on the <br /> following committees: commerce, ethics, energy and public utilities, education - <br /> community colleges, and finance. He and Senator Burgin have been working together to <br /> obtain financial assistance for their represented areas. In our area, allocations have been <br /> made as follows: $ 28 million in the State budget for the Raleigh Executive Jetport; <br /> $10.6 million for the Central Carolina Community Collegess E. Eugene Moore Center <br /> (with a hope for future increments when VinFast arrives); $5 million for a sewer line for <br /> the Tramway Fire Department and Grace Christian School; $200,000 for Temple <br /> Theatre; $305,000 for the women's shelter; $53 million to run sewer from Pittsboro to <br /> Sanford; and $50,000 to the Boys & Girls Club. Rep. Sauls noted several legislative <br /> accomplishments, including school calendar flexibility, expanding K-12 professional <br /> development opportunities, requiring U.S history and government courses for graduation, <br /> eliminating four-year college degree requirements, lowering income taxes to 4.6% to <br /> 4.25%, a 4% COLA for state retirees, and 9% increase to bus drivers. <br /> Commissioner Cameron Sharpe asked about the State Health Plan changing from Blue <br /> Cross Blue Shield to Aetna for retirees. Senator Burgin said the Treasurer had to put the <br /> contract out to bid and Aetna's plan showed savings over the five-year agreement. He <br /> noted 600 people were hired to handle the transition and there are 750,000 on the State <br /> Health Plan. The Aetna contract was signed, but there is some litigation occurring. <br /> Chairman Smith said the Town of Broadway has reached its water capacity and will cost <br /> $53 million for the town to connect to Sanford's water system. The Watson Lake Dam is <br /> going to cost $3 million to bring up to standard. Rep. Sauls said he talked to Mayor Don <br /> Andrews and had put a request in for the dam, but it did not get funded. The legislators <br /> plan to continue working on the request. <br /> County Manager Lisa Minter addressed Senator Burgin's $550,000 allocation to the <br /> County for this year's budget. The Senator also considered allocating to the County the <br /> $100,000 that was granted to Central Carolina Hospital and $ 95,000 that was granted to <br /> Veterans Harbor that the entities have not used from the 2023 OSBM Grants. The <br /> Senator asked staff to prepare ideas for County use of the funds, a copy of which is <br /> attached and incorporated into these minutes. Ms. Minter said staff will be coming to the <br /> Board in January with a plan on how the County can spend these funds. <br /> Commissioner Andre Knecht arrived at 6:25 p.m. <br /> BRIDGING GAPS <br />