The meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., is expected to revolve around the $344,000 that some school officials say should be restored to the school system's budget.
The school board voted not to ask the county for the $344,000 if Scotland's tax rate could be lowered.
But when commissioners voted last month to keep the tax rate at $1.02, it angered some on the school board.
School board member Paul Rush suggested last week that legal action is a possibility if the boards are unable to reach some resolution.
For their part, county officials say they never agreed to the school board's request to lower taxes. Most say the county is not in a financial position to cut taxes.
"Mr. Paul Rush seems to think that money grows on trees," said County Commissioner John Alford. "It doesn't."
Alford went on to blame former school officials for pushing the passage of a $22 million school bond "many years ago that we're still paying for."
He added that the school system had promised to close a number of inefficient schools, but opened additional schools instead.
"The school system is shouldering us with all of these burdens and now they are threatening a lawsuit?" Alford said. "We have 17 percent unemployment, we lost about 10 major industries and the schools are demanding we give them more than $10 million this year. It is disgraceful."
But school board member Terrence Williams said it is unlikely that the two boards will meet in court.
Although he did not provide specifics, he said the commissioners and school members would come to some accord on the funding.
"We're not out to make war with anybody and I don't think either board wants litigation," Williams said. "We're all elected officials representing the same citizens and we are going to do what is in everyone's interest."
Thursday's meeting will be held at the county board's chambers at 1404 West Boulevard in Laurinburg,
Post a Comment
