The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 on Monday to approve the town’s proposed $18.4 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year — including a 5-cent property tax increase — and discussed the ongoing issue of the removal of school resource officers (SROs) and crossing guards from Cumberland County Schools.
Operating budget passes
What happened: The budget approved by the board is the largest in Hope Mills history, Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said. In approving the plan and new fee schedule, residents will see property taxes increase from 46 cents per $100 of assessed value to 51 cents. The increase, the first in 12 years, will help to fund a pay study, allowing departments to better allocate pay adjustments to their employees.
“I wish I could vote for the budget,” said Commissioner Elyse Craver, who cast the only vote against adopting the budget, citing the property tax increase. “The police and the employees; we have already voted on that. They will get their raises, but I feel like there are places in the budget that could be cut that would cover that.”
No community members spoke in favor or against the proposed budget during a public hearing that preceded the vote. Bellflowers said an online forum regarding the budget had been available for a three-week period prior to the meeting, but received no comments from community members at the time of Monday’s meeting.
Why it matters: The new town operating budget will allow for a review and adjustment of pay for town employees, including first responders such as police and fire department personnel. This budget also allocates new amounts to various community events and programs such as employee appreciation funds, July 4 celebrations, and Police Cadet programs.
“It’s always a struggle to decide to increase taxes. It’s never an easy thing,” said Commissioner Joanne Scarola. “I think for our first responders and staff to get rightly compensated is appropriate.”
What’s next: The new town operating budget will take effect on July 1, and residents can expect to see the tax increase reflected in their property tax evaluation.
“A year from now, if our revenues change, we can do the very same thing and lower property taxes,” Bellflowers said. “The last property tax increase about 12 years ago goes as a testament to show that the town has been, not good, but excellent stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
Bellflowers continued to praise the efforts of town’s staff to obtain grants to help Hope Mills balance its budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Commissioners address SRO issue
What happened: Commissioners expressed ongoing frustration regarding the removal of SROs and crossing guards at Cumberland County Schools.
Bellflowers read a statement from Glenn Adams, the chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, in response to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office’s decision to pull the SROs from schools in incorporated areas of the county.
“The Cumberland County Sheriff is an elected official apart from the Board of Commissioners, and while the board has budgetary authority, it does not have the authority to tell the sheriff how and where to deploy officers,” Bellflowers read.
Adams further wrote that the board did not have advance notice of the sheriffs decision to not provide SROs and crossing guards in the municipalities, citing that the sheriff’s office contracts directly with the school system. This decision places the responsibility of providing school security on the school system itself.
“I don’t see any transparency at all,” stated Bellflowers when explaining that he was denied access to a related meeting being held at the Law Enforcement center on June 6. He was told that the meeting was not public, and would be attended by invitation only. Bellflowers stated that to his knowledge, only three police chiefs and a school representative will be in attendance.
“The safety of our kids in school is paramount, and you have people in government agencies trying to figure it out, which they aren’t,” Bellflowers continued, restating that the school board and municipalities will have to solve this problem on their own.
“I feel like we’re being manipulated by the county,” Commissioner Joanne Scarola said. “Are they waiting on us to see if we will take over? Because that’s, again, piss-poor planning.”
“It sounds like they’re not going to come up with a plan,” said Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kenjuana McCray. “I don’t think that anybody is going to come save us at this point, I think we are going to have to figure out how to save ourselves.”
Commissioner Bryan Marley agreed, saying he felt Hope Mills and its seven schools are being “strong-armed” into solving the SRO problem themselves.
“On behalf of the kids and our schools, it’s a kick in the teeth,” Bellflowers added. “Schools are safe, until they’re not.”
Why it matters: The Sheriff’s Department’s removal of SROs and crossing guards at Cumberland County Schools will leave the school system responsible for providing security for students and staff.
“They’re a lifeline to the kids in that school,” Bellflowers said, explaining that SROs are not just officers, but also counselors, educators, friends, peacekeepers, and a valuable resource to Cumberland County Schools.
What’s next: The policy for the removal of SROs and crossing guards will take effect in early July, and the school system and municipalities are searching for a solution for the issue before the next academic year begins. Commissioners unanimously voted to conduct a feasibility study regarding SROs and crossing guards with the Cumberland County School Board.
Other business
Tiffany Brisson was appointed to the Hope Mills Prime Movers, a committee that advises the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on issues regarding residents between ages 18-39. Dr. Terra Jordan was approved to the Parks and Recreation Committee and as the Board of Adjustment Alternate Member to fill an unexpired term through September 2025.
The board accepted a Human Resources paid parental leave policy for town employees, which they believe will help aid employee recruitment and retention.
The board approved a motion to complete the Application and Match for Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Law Enforcement Officer Salaries. This is a grant opportunity which would pay a percentage of the salary for three new police officers over a number of years, allowing the town to hire new officers without having to pay the entire salary cost using the town budget.
Approval was granted for the purchase of equipment using Federal Drug Forfeiture Funds for investigative tools for Law Enforcement agencies in the amount of $5,400.
SharpePatel, a Raleigh based public accounting firm, was granted a contract with the town to perform an audit for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
The board authorized Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin to execute a contract with Morgan Trucking & General Construction Inc. to construct an ADA-Compliant Multi-Use Path at Hope Mills Lake Park.
Commissioners approved a FAMPO Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative, Comprehensive, and Continuing Transportation Planning, which will broaden the jurisdiction in which public transportation is developed in the Fayetteville Metropolitan Area.
The next Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, at Hope Mills Town Hall.
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Nothing to see here, Folks. Just government at all levels stealing from property owners whose home values just increased due to bad domestic policy on the Federal level. It’s gentrification, and we will see these effects later, when another housing bubble pops, and mass foreclosures are made manifest because taxes ALWAYS outpace INCOME.