Maynard M. Taylor, Chair Johnnie W. Carswell, Vice Chair Wayne F. Abele, Sr., Commissioner Jeffrey C.

Brittain, Commissioner Jack Carroll, Commissioner

Kenneth B. Steen, County Manager Kay Honeycutt, Clerk to the Board James R. Simpson, II, County Attorney Stephen T. Daniel, Co. Tax Attorney

BURKE COUNTY
March 20, 2013

Mr. Larry Putnam, Superintendent Burke County Public School System P.O. Box 989 Morganton, NC 28680-0989 Ref: Adoption of Resolution and Petition Calling for Special Legislation Dear Mr. Putnam: During their regularly scheduled meeting on March 19, 2013, the Burke County Board of Commissioners completed the adoption process for Resolution 2013-08 and the related Petition. The adopted Petition requests the following legislation from the North Carolina Legislature: 'The Burke County Board of Commissioners will be exempt from any and all minimal county funding appropriation requirement(s) of any kind that may exist, be established or enacted by any and all departments or agencies of the State of North Carolina related to the provision of state funding of the Burke County School System, such as but not limited to, Low Wealth Funding if the Burke County School System increases its Local Funds Fund Balance which for the purposes of this legislation means the cumulative amount of all restricted and non-restricted fund balances contained in the Local Funds section of the Burke County School System's Budget and shown in its annual audit during a fiscal year by $250,000 or more upon each and every occurrence that would be subject to this exemption. This exemption shall also require a continuation of state funding to the Burke County School System in the amount it would otherwise qualify for during that fiscal year and shall relieve and exempt the Burke County Board of Commissioners of any and all such minimal funding requirements to the Burke County School System that may exist, be established or enacted by any and all departments or agencies of the State of North Carolina for the funding of any school system for a period of three (3) consecutive fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the Burke County School System's Local Funds Fund Balance increased by $250,000 or more as documented in the Burke County School System's annual audit unless the increase was accomplished with the prior knowledge and documented

200 Avery Avenue, P.O. Box 219, Morganton, N.C. 28680-0219 County Manager: (828) 439-4340 - Clerk to the Board: (828) 439-4341 - Fax: (828) 438-2782

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consent of the Burke County Board of Commissioners and such documentation shall be evidenced in the text of the adopted Burke County Budget Ordinance for the fiscal year in which the increase was to occur." As you can see, the requested legislation has no affect on the School System's current savings account and the legislation would only affect the School System if it makes a future increase to its savings account of $250,000 or more during a fiscal year without the knowledge and approval of the Burke County Board of Commissioners. Additionally, the state would be required to provide Low Wealth Funding to the Burke County School System at the level the School System would otherwise qualify for even if the county is allowed to reduce its level of local funding to the School System. Please call me if you have questions regarding the requested legislation, or any other issue we may need to address. Sincerely,

Kenneth B. "Bryan" Steen County Manager cc: Burke County Board of Commissioners

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