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Cumberland County commissioners to deliver legislative priorities to local delegation

Board lists top issues as clean water, education, homelessness and 3 others

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The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday will hand over a wish list for money and support to the county’s representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly for a slew of ongoing or proposed programs.

An 8:30 a.m. meeting between the two governing bodies is scheduled in the conference room of the Department of Social Services Building on Ramsey Street.

County officials will present several requests for legislation addressing education, the environment, general government, health and human services, and public safety programs.

The commissioners chose six priorities from among 20 requests: public water, schools, homelessness, affordable housing, mental health, and funding to finish the Child Crisis Center.

The public water request involves getting safe drinking water to the Gray’s Creek area, which has been affected by well-water contamination from the nearby Chemours manufacturing plant on N.C. 87.

The Children’s Crisis Center provides intensive treatment for children and adolescents who have emotional disorders, according to its website.

At a Feb. 7 meeting of the county board, Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt presented the 20 issues for consideration. Board members said the requests should be prioritized, with a specific dollar amount assigned to five or six issues.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, the funding amounts the board is expected to ask for from the legislative delegation were not available from county officials.

Local bills to be considered by the N.C. Senate must be requested by Feb. 23 and filed by March 9. Local bills in the state House must be requested by March 1 and filed by March 23. The crossover deadline date is May 4.

Three of the six members of Cumberland County’s legislative delegation are serving their first terms in the General Assembly.

Democratic Reps. Frances Jackson and Charles Smith are in their first terms. Democratic Rep. Marvin Lucas is serving his 12th term in the House, and Republican Rep. Diane Wheatley is in her second term.

Democratic Sen. Val Applewhite is serving her first term in the Senate, while Republican Sen. Tom McInnis, who represents both Cumberland and Moore counties, is in his fifth term. McInnis also serves as the majority whip.

Cumberland County, General Assembly, legislation, clean water

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