001Good evening everyone. Um, welcome to the October 20th, 2025 regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners. I move that the board Nope, that is not the right one. We will begin uh the meeting with an invocation. If you would like to join me, please bow your head. Dear heavenly father, thank you for this beautiful fall weather that you have blessed us with. Thank you for this incredible county, sweet union. Thank you for every citizen that resides in this county and for the ways that they give back to all of us. Thank you for our state and this incredible country that we live in. We pray for your hands to always be over us to guide and protect us with strength and courage and wisdom in everything we say and do to be your
002hands and feet. It's in your name that I pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> If everyone please stand. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The next item on the agenda is informal comments from the community. I believe we have one person signed up. Each speaker must address the board from the lectern and be and and begin their remarks by first giving their name and stating whether they are residents of Union County, indicating the municipality within which they reside, if any. Each speaker will have three minutes to make remarks. A tone may sound at the conclusion of your remarks. A speaker may not yield any of his or her time to
003another speaker. Speakers may not discuss matters which are subject of public hearings and they must be courteous in their language and presentation. Restatements or repetitive comments by the same speaker whether at the same or separate meetings may be ruled out of order and terminated by the chair. Personal attacks will not be tolerated. Speakers may leave written comments and/or supporting documents if any with the clerk to the board. >> We have one person signed up. Um that is Joel Dam. >> Good evening boards, commissioners, uh county manager, county attorney, and staff. Um thank you for letting me speak this evening. Um I first want to start by uh welcoming Mr. Sides back to the board. uh you have been very much missed on this board and it's great to see you back here. Um I I
004want to talk about the uh the grant applications that staff has presented you all with the in today's uh consent agenda. I want to thank staff uh for doing their best to look for those grants that from the state and from the federal government uh that this board can approve um so that we they can save the taxpayers of this county money. Um, and obviously one of those is the transportation grant that is on there. And then also the meals on wheels as Mr. Sides has uh been very much pushing for funding for that type of thing. Um, and I know that's been a big thing within the county. Have been looking uh down you the human services building and saw the signs for the volunteers. And so if you're out there and have time,
005come out and uh volunteer with those types of things. But I just want to thank staff for all that they do for this county um and looking for those grants. So thank you very much. >> Thank you. Are there any other speakers who have not signed up to speak who wish to speak? The next item on our agenda is item 25-624 public hearing regarding step 4 economic development incentive grant to McGee Corporation Project Canopy. I will open the public hearing and recognize Ron Nail, our economic development director for comments. >> Madame Chair, commissioners, manager Matthews, I want to thank you for allowing me to bring before you tonight an economic development incentive grant request for McGee Corporation, otherwise referred to as Project Canopy. McGee Corporation is a fourthg generation manufacturer of steel frame canopy systems
006used at fueling stations and other custom architectural applications. The company is headquartered in Stallings uh where it's been in business since 1961. So that's 64 years. They'll be celebrating 65 years in business next year um right here in Union County. They currently employ 163 people, of whom 50% are Union County residents. These employees earn an average annual wage of $63,000 plus full benefits. McGee Corporation's business has grown to a level where they have simply outgrown their current building. Their goal is to find a location where they can build a modern, efficient facility that will accommodate their business growth for not only the years to come, but decades to come. To accomplish this goal, McGee Corporation is considering the purchase of 60 acres of Union County owned land uh located south of Goldmine Road near the
007Charlotte Monroe Executive Airport. The project's anticipated capital investment is approximately $40 million, which is a combination of land, the a new 360,000 ft building, and new production equipment. The project is also expected to retain its current 163 full-time jobs as well as create 35 new jobs within three to five years. The company has indicated that incentives are a very important factor for their for this project. Therefore, tonight we are asking your consideration of a step four economic development incentive grant in an amount not to exceed $696,000 paid over five years beginning in fiscal year 2028. The grant will be based upon the Union County Tax Office's appraised value each year on the company's anticipated investment of $40 million in land, building construction, and the new production equipment and the retention of all its existing jobs.
008Based on this investment and holding all other factors constant, including depreciation, the company would pay estimated advalorum taxes on the new taxable investment of $868,000 over that same 5-year grant period. Of course, actual tax revenue to Union County uh will be based on the current tax rate applied to the assessed value of the investment each year. Therefore, given the parameters of this opportunity, the Union County Economic Development Department recommends the award of this step 4 performance-based economic development incentive grant to McGee Corporation in an amount not to exceed $696,000 to help secure this $40 million investment and its related jobs. At this point, it's my pleasure to recognize uh two gentlemen who are with me. Uh Sweden McGee is president of manufacturing and his brother Todd McGee is president of operations at McGee Corporation. They're
009available to answer any questions you might have on the on the project as am I. With that, thank you. >> Commissioners, do you have any questions? >> Questions. >> Okay. I just want to say um thank you for being here tonight and thank you for the everything you've done for our community over the years. Um we're happy to have you here tonight. We do not have any speakers signed up for for this public hearing. Is there anyone here that did not sign up that wishes to speak hearing? None. I will close the public hearing. Next on the agenda is item 25-660, Board of Elections employees earn national certification. I will recognize Kristen Holloway, our ele elections director for this item. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, uh Mr. Manager, staff, uh I
010am not Kristen Holloway. >> You are not. We noticed that. >> My name is Chris Dugen. I am the current chair of the Union County Board of Elections. Uh it's with my honor to request that this board uh recognized uh the Union County Board of Elections for earning an honorable mention in the US Election Assistance Commission 2024 Clearing House Awards Program. This was an award provided to the Union County Board of Elections uh by the commission in its recognition of uh their successful and engaging I voted sticker campaign. This campaign showcased innovation and voter research or outreach in civic engagement. The Union County's sticker contest earned high marks uh from an independent panel of judges comprising of current and former election officials, EAC commissioners, and members of the EAC advisory boards. Across the United States,
011there were 53 jurisdictions that received these honorable mentions along with 44 uh jurisdictions who actually received the awards. uh the 53 jurisdictions comprised of not only uh small counties but states at large. Uh this is a a very high award high honorable mention for the county. Each year the EAC honors outstanding achievement in the election administration through the clearing house awards established under the Help America Vote Act of 2022. The EAC serves the national clearing house for election information and the awards are a key part of that mission. The awards recognize innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost effectiveness, rep replicability. It took me a while to to pronounce that replicability and the positive impact. As such, I'd request respectfully request that this board recognize the Union County Board of Elections for its honorable mention by the EAC.
012Thank you. for you to take out there. You want to have your folks come up? Kristen, [Music] >> come on up. Get your picture. Taking Come on in. >> There's no yellow line >> right here. >> Yeah. Thank you. [Applause] Sharon and Candace, go ahead and stay. How about have them stay up here? Let's do >> this. What's that? >> Yeah. Excellent. Excellent. [Applause] Madam Chair, if I may, uh, just to acknowledge this award. Uh this award is given to Sharon Jordan and Candace Lopez uh by the certified elections registration administration or Sierra. Uh this is given to uh both of these individuals were designated as certified elections registration administrators. The highest professional achievement in a ceremony conducted by the election center on August 22nd, 2025. Sierra designation is achieved through a multi-year course of
013study taught by the Auburn PA or MPA faculty and conducted election centers professional education program. The program promotes supports or promotes and supports continuous improvement in the administration of elections and voter registration research professional education conferences networking and consulting. Miss Jordan has been employed by Union County since 2018 and Miss Lopez since 2014. Both have earned the North Carolina Elections Administrator designation, are members of the National Association of Election Officials, which is comprised of voter registers and election administrators throughout America in the US territories. And I thank you for that honor for those members. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. [Applause] We get a little nervous when we see Wanita. Make sure is my paperwork in. >> Yes. >> Did I forget something? >> So happy to have you here tonight. And um
014we know that you do a very very good job over at the board of elections and I'm very pleased for you to receive this uh recognition tonight, especially a national recognition. So keep up the great work. We depend on you. Okay. The next item on our agenda is 25-661 board of I think we've already done that, haven't we? skipped over that one. Let me skip that one. Now, it's time for consideration of the agenda and the consent agenda. Are there any motions regarding requested revisions or amendments to either consent or business? >> No. >> Madam Chair? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I I'll go ahead and make the motion that we approve the items listed on the consent agenda. >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. Very good. We are now at the
015business portion of the agenda. The first item up for business is 25-626 consideration of the step 4 economic development incentive grant to McGee Corporation, also known as project canopy. I wish to recognize Ron Mail, our economic development director for this item. Again, Madame Chair, commissioners, be happy to answer any questions that you might have on the project. >> Are there any questions or comments? >> Ma'am, I'd just like to offer a motion to approve. >> Okay. All those in Oh, Commissioner Mounds. >> Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. Nothing. Um I'm certainly for the motion. Ju just a couple of comments. Um, so first of all, I want to say thank you to uh the McGee Corporation, number one for being here, but again, just to echo our chair's comments from earlier, you know, the great
016job that you guys do for Union County. So, we appreciate that. The fact that you guys are fourth generation familyowned, you know, right here in Union County. That's that that's great. That's great for us. It's great, you know, for our communities. So, I just want to say thank you and uh and I'll be in support of the motion. >> Absolutely. Any other comments? Okay, Commissioner Balkam, >> my comments a little off the wall. Um, so I knew Richard and Charles. Well, I know Richard. I knew Charles and Todd and Swede. I'm trying to figure out the four generations. How >> grandfather started it together. So that was like one and two started. And my son works there now. >> Our old brother Kevin has three kids there now. >> Wow. >> That's good. >> We
017have them in training. >> Excellent. >> In training. >> It's a well-known entity um and part of the core of this county and um we cannot thank you enough for um this new opportunity and we're excited for you. If there are no other um comments, all those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. I. >> Here we go. >> We're going to keep them here in Union County. And I will recognize um Dennis Moser. Thank you um for being here and um thank you for sticking with us to um see this through to the end. I now want to recognize the county manager for his comments. >> Oh no, I think I missed 25642, Land Preservation. >> Oh, okay. Our next item of business is item 25642, Union County Land Preservation and Easement
018Program Update. I want to recognize Alan Aldridge, our soil and water conservation district director for this item. flipped a few pages. >> I'd be happy to leave early. >> I knew it was a short agenda. >> Okay, we ain't going to restart it now. >> Restart. >> No, >> that'll be a bad time. restart. >> Madame Chairman, commissioners, we're excited to give you an update on the land preservation easement program. We haven't been here since February, but we've had a lot of things going on with the Soil and Water District. So, since it's been since February, we'd like to give you um you know, an update on the or some of the previous board actions. Um, so in the November 6th of 2023, um, the board approved the Union County Soil Water Conservation District to
019perk. Oh, we're not even up. Sorry. We will pause. >> Can you see it on your screen? >> Yeah, I'm I'm good on this screen. >> Commissioner, can you see it on your screen? >> Yeah, we can. >> Yes, >> we're good. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So again, November 6, 2023, approved the district to hold land conservation easements. Um, you adopted the budget amendment amendment 14 appropriating the county's general fund unassigned fund balance in the amount of $969,000 to be used to purchase those easements. And in the February 3rd, 2025 meeting earlier this year, you adopted the Union County Land Preservation and Easement Ordinance. And following that, we accepted two easements in the amount of $721,000 for purchase. Those are our pilot projects that we were excited to get through this board. And then we
020adopted budget amendment 22 appropriating the the county's general fund unassigned fund balance in the amount of $885,000 for future conservation easements. So with that um we had our first cycle uh application period. U we opened this uh cycle at the end of June. Uh it ended August 8th. Uh we sent postcards to all the voluntary a district holders. Then we also sent postcards to to people that we thought were interested that that came to the office. Um, in that 7-week period, we had 28 applications for the program, over almost 1,200 acres and $7.3 million worth of request. So, after uh the uh August 8th deadline, uh staff uh ranked the applications and four projects were selected for consideration. at the August soil and water conservation district board meeting. The soil and water district board approved
021the four projects to be taken to the board of county commissioners for consideration. And then at the se September a advisory board member board meeting the advisory board approved the four projects to be taken to the board of county commission for consideration. So with that we are going to bring four uh easements to you for consideration tonight. The first easement is 902026001. It is a 43 acre farm off of Lansford Road. It is 37 acres of forest land, 6 acres of grassland. It is currently in the voluntary a district and this is a 91% donation easement. So we are only purchasing 9% um or having to pay for 9%. So the total conservation easement value is $282,000. Like I said, 9% purchase. The purchase cost is $25,380 and the donation value is $256,620. So, we're
022really excited to see a heavy donation easement like this. So, this is the easement. It's off of Lansford Road and Little Sleepy Hollow, mainly forest land. The next easement, 90226002, is 65 acres off Old Gold Mine Road. It is 100% forest land. It has 1 f feet of creek frontage on Salem Creek. It is also in a voluntary a district and this is a 50% donation. Total easement value is $576,000. Uh purchase cost $288,250 with the same donation value. So here's a map of it. The Salem Creek is on the west side, old gold mine on the east side. The third easement tonight is easement 90 2026003. This is 65 acres adjacent to the other easement off of old gold mine. It is 100% forested like the other and it is also in a voluntary
023a district. This is a 50% donation easement like the last total conservation easement value is 6 631,700. Uh purchase cost and donation cost or value is 315,850. And again, old gold mine is on the east. No creek frontage on this property. The last easement is easement 90 2026004 55 acres off of Beltill Road. It is 100% forested. Also is again in the voluntary a district and it is a 50% donation. Total conservation easement value is 631,000. It is a a 50% like I said purchase cost as well as the donation. You can see this is uh southeast of Belt Mill Road down 601 south of Monroe. So tonight we are we have a few actions that we are requesting. Uh the action is to approve the allocation of funds from budget 10115410 uh 56301115 for
024the purchase of easement 90 2026 and 004 for the amount $854,180 and to accept these easements into the land preservation and easement pro uh program. Is there any questions on any of these easements? I know I went through them very quickly. Um, but we'd be more than happy to talk through anything. >> Alan, can you give the board just a uh general idea of how much money will be left in the program if they accept all of these easements? >> So, uh, with this, we are allocating around $30,000 for each easement for transactional cost, surveying, environmental assessments, appraisal, uh, legal work. Um, on top of that, we've set aside $100,000 in case any donations come in uh like one of our previous uh pilot projects. It was 100% donation. So, we've set $100,000 aside just
025in case there's any projects that come before us that we don't want to miss out on. Um, so $100,000 we'll have left. Um, but hopefully in January, February, we'll be asking for some more money from PV roll back money so we can fund more projects. uh an update on the uh two pilot projects. They're all going through the survey and appraisal work uh right now. So hopefully by the first part of next year, we'll have those closed. >> I would like to go back to the Gold Mine Road. >> Gold Mine Road. >> Um >> which one? The the first or second one? >> The first and first and second. Did you say th those were adjacent or >> Those are adjacent. >> Okay. So it's it's this middle one and the one beneath it.
026>> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. So the one above um is going to remain with the current owner or >> they're all going to remain with the current owner. These are two, >> right? They all remain with the current owner. So you just answered my my next question. Is it is all of this owned by the same person? >> It is not. Okay. >> So they they ranked higher because they were adjacent. So, we're trying to get these properties in as close of proximity as possible. Obviously, we've only got two right now that are in the program. So, we didn't have many to go off of, but the more we can piece these together, they'll rank higher in our in our uh application. >> Okay. So, just for clarification, the first one in the middle
027is owned by a different person than the one at the bottom. Those are two different owners. Two different owners. Is the one north owned by either one of those owners or is that a third owner? >> That is a different owner. >> A third owner. >> I'm not aware of who owns it. >> Okay. Okay. Are there any other questions that the board has for any of this? >> Commissioner Hams. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I I'm glad that uh Chair Merryill brought that up and thank you for the explanation because as I was looking through our packet, you know, I noticed that these two properties and it seemed as though they were adjoining properties. >> Um but I think that that's great. I think that's great that that you guys consider that in your
028ranking. >> Um because I mean right here you've got what 130 acres uh just over 130 acres that are there contiguous together. So, uh, the other thing that stuck out to me in the information that we were presented, Alan, was, uh, something that you touched on earlier and when you began began the presentation is that you said that we, we received 28 applications, correct? >> That's correct. >> In seven weeks. >> So, so demand is not slowing down. >> No, >> that's a good problem to have. >> So, thank you for the work that you guys do. Appreciate that. And just so that we're completely transparent, um I want to go back to some of the final comments that were made. So our current balance is $969,000 plus or minus a little bit more. And
029if if these three are approved tonight, that would leave us about $115,000. So these four are 854,000. There's four. Okay. Uh so the remainder after transactional cost will be around $100,000. We can send you out the budget if y'all would like into the >> and that h 100,000 is before or after that $30,000. Um after >> is after. >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, we'll have about a h 100,000 left over >> after um if this passes. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Okay. I wanted to clarify if that 30,000 each was included or not. So, thank you for that clarification. Are there any other questions? >> No. >> Okay, >> Madam Chair. Um, I'll make the motion that we approve the allocation of funds from You know what? We're just going to make this easy.
030I'll make the motion that we um that we approve the requested action on this item. Um, and we've got we've got two of them there. So, uh, so both actions. >> Um, so again, my motion would be that we approve the requested actions plural for this item. Thank you. >> Okay. Any comments, questions? >> No, ma'am. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, now I will recognize the county manager for comments. >> Very good. I I do actually have just a just a couple of things. I I often get questions um from some board members as well as the public about any impacts that we may see to our budget and our operations related to the federal shutdown as well as the state
031not having an an officially adopted budget. And what I can say is the impacts of those are not really seen at this point in time. Uh I'm not saying that we will not have impacts, but we're not noticing those at this particular time frame. Um so business as usual, we're doing our normal activities. Um there could be impacts and we will certainly bring that information to the board as that becomes uh more um more noticeable to us. But I did want to make sure that the board understood that right now we're operating as is. I'm not seeing any changes at this point. Thank you very much. >> So unlike the federal shutdown where you can't even get in the front door, we are still open for business and operating as normally as possible to your
032knowledge. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Do you have any information through any of your sources as to uh the nature of the impass at the state level in passing a budget? Has there been any kind of communication as to the sticking points or um what the what the holdup why we don't have a budget? >> I'm not aware of what the circumstances are. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, I'm going to start with um Commissioner comments and I'm going to let Commissioner Gary Sides go first. Welcome. So glad to have you here tonight. It's great to be here. Thank you all for coming out tonight. I wish you all a safe trip home and an enjoyable remainder of your evening. And uh thank you what you do for Union County.
033>> Thank you, Commissioner Brian Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um just want to thank Mr. Aldridge for for being here. Uh thank you for your presentation. you know, this is something that uh that we've talked about a few times um on this board, this program, this uh conservation easement program, and and uh and I think that it's it's a very good thing in what we're doing. Um you know, I've been supportive all along. We we have to take measures to try to protect um the agricultural character of our county and this is a good way to do that. And so, um thank you for the work that you guys are doing. Uh thank you to our speaker tonight, um Mr. Mr. down. It's always good to have you in the building. Thank you for
034your comments. Um, other than that, just uh, you know, again, thank you to our board of elections folks. Uh, what a great honor and what a great job that you guys do. Um, like Chair Merrill said, it is a little nervous, you know, nerve-wracking for us because we're thinking, you know, gosh, that did I did I miss a deadline? So, um, so yeah. So, so thank you guys for being here. Um, and thank you for what you guys do as well. Um, again, thank you uh to all of our staff. Appreciate all the effort that you guys put in. Um, this has been a short meeting, but uh but I think that we've accomplished some good things. So, thank you. >> Commissioner Christina Helms. >> Okay. Commissioner Clancy Balkam, >> I'd like to say ditto
035over to Commissioner Helm's comments. Um, I really appreciate all the work the staff puts into these different efforts. And I know I've I've been in in the mix a little bit with Andrew Balkam and with Allan Aldridge and the whole team over there and they really put in a a strong effort and full measure. So um like to tip my hat to those gentlemen and u to Ron and so glad to see things move forward for the MIG McGee Corporation. So >> absolutely >> other than that that's all I have. >> Okay. Um I would like to echo um congratulations again to the Union County Board of Elections. Um we can joke about this because um we consider you friends and we thank you for all you do and and helping guide us in um
036sticky territory from every now and then. But um >> we won. >> December's coming. So, um, at any rate, um, congratulations again. Um, you know, I know other areas of our country are often, you know, pointing fingers and talking about different boards of elections, but I know here in Union County, we're in very, very good hands. So, thank you for everything you do for for all of our voters and for um those wishing, you know, um, intending to run for office. You take very very good care of everyone. So, thank you. We're very fortunate. Um, I want to clarify. I want to go back to the county manager. So, so without a state budget right now, has has our staff I know we do not have anyone representing Union County and or, you know, working
037on our behalf as a lobbyist to give us information. Have you spoken to anyone to get any type of feedback um you know where we are? I know in years past, county budgets um have not been um accepted by the former governor and then single items um such as teacher raises and stuff have been taken um in years past um that were never approved by the governor for teacher salary raises and that's not the prerogative of this board. But are you getting any feedback? You know, are we going down that path again? You know, what are you hearing as to the potential of the new governor, Josh Stein, approving or not approving um you know, a budget. So, I assume we're working we're operating on last year's budget. >> Yeah. With with some modifications. >>
038Okay. What are those models? >> I couldn't tell you. I know that they had they had adopted some minor changes I guess sort of a stop gap but not a full budget and my understanding is they were considered a mini budget. >> Um what that definition means couldn't tell you is that half the items 25% don't know. I do know that there was uh some discussion by the legislature to meet and potentially look at adopting a mini budget. Um I do not know where that is going. have not gotten any feedback from our legislators on that at this point in time and our association honestly I I've not heard them comment on anything they know at this time. >> So I think what I what I would like um on behalf of this board is
039to find out what those many things that were approved that are different from last year's budget. I would really like to understand better um what those stop gaps were and what was funded and um and I'd like to know where the teacher salaries um fall in that um because I think there is um so you know a lot of questions around uh you know if this if the state budget is not being adopted then then you know what is being um taken care of above last year's budget. >> Um because I have spoken with, you know, some of our uh Union County um delegates and, you know, they have supported things like, you know, teacher increases and I know this board has supported um and really encouraged um you know, the county supplement um to
040be activated. Um, I I really don't want county tax dollars tied up um waiting on, you know, state um mandates. Um I really want to take care of our Union County um people >> who are, you know, on the job doing their work. And I know that by state statute, we can't make someone um or another board um do what we want to do, but um we can strongly recommend that, you know, county supplements and county dollars be spent on county employee, you know, people in the county that are doing the work. So, um I'm hoping that um we can get rolling on that. I will we will work on getting you some clarification on the state's budget. >> Okay. Okay. Are there any other comments? Okay. with I I neglected to add in my
041comments. Previous meetings, members of this board have mentioned their support for the county as a financial backdrop for our school, particularly the school system in case of any kind of shock event, a financial uh if and when a budget is passed, that their enthusiasm for continuing to serve as a financial backs stop for our school system. And I would like to lend my support as well for any type of unforeseen shock loss if and when we do have a partial or a full budget. And there's an opportunity for the county's resources to play some kind of role to mitigate that shock initially so that our school system can try and move forward with the supplements and capital projects with some degree of confidence that the county we have your back to mitigate any of these
042unforeseen financial shocks to try So that you know that we are there so that you can move forward with some hope of consistency into in the remainder what what remains of this fiscal year. >> And with that being said, commissioner sides, you know, we're at the end of 2025. So, if we do not, you know, if the board of education does not take care of the county dollars for the county supplement, then that means we're moving into December or January. And um the county supplement was was at number 37. So, if we do not take care of that now, sitting and waiting on a state budget, then I suspect we'll drop much lower than number 37 um in the next budget. And um given that the board said that this was their number one priority
043for this school year, you know, I would like to see it taken care of now and not in 2026 and to use a count county supplement for state um unfunded mandates, whether it's insurance or whatever else. Um I just want to stand by, you know, our board of education and our superintendent and take care of um teachers um and leadership that has resulted in Union County Public Schools being the number one performing school district in the state of North Carolina out of 115 school districts. So, let's take care of Union County with Union County tax dollars for a Union County supplement and um and let's let's don't delay anymore anymore so that we continue to to to drop. Um let's use the county tax dollars for what it was intended to do for their number
044one priority. Commissioner Helms, did you have something? Well, I'll just say that, you know, again, going back to uh to this particular issue, you know, this gives us an opportunity to increase that supplement two years in a row and >> years prior to >> Yeah. And and I don't I don't know that that's been done in in an awful long time. And so, you know, it is an opportunity. I think that you uh you kind of hit the nail on the head there when you said these are, you know, county tax dollars paid by the county residents for county teachers. Um and so, you know, with that in mind, there's other avenues, and this has been discussed, but there's other avenues to fund unfunded mandates, and there's other things that we can do uh with
045working with our state partners, our state legislators, you know, to find solutions there. So, you know, again, I I'm I'm hopeful that uh that we can, you know, work with our educational partners and and get that supplement out before 2026. >> Thank you. Otherwise, we just continue to drop. And um and if and if the county allows if the Union County Board of Education chooses to use the teacher supplement increases for state issues, then um you know, we're just going to continue to hurt our Union County teachers when I think we would be better off joining forces and um letting the state insurance and all of the other state issues if if they fail to fund it, then let that be a state problem, not a Union County problem. Um I know that's easier said
046than done, >> but you have um county commissioners that will support you um with unfunded mandates. Um but let's take care of our teachers. So, if there are any other comments or questions, um, yes. >> Nope. Um, I'll make a motion to adjourn. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Good night, everyone. Thank you for being here.