Moore County Commissioners approve $1.5 million for schools and nearly $4 million in sheriff contracts

From zoning rules to $1.5 million in school funding to development changes and sheriff contracts, Moore County Commissioners faced a packed agenda at their May 5 meeting.

The board approved a $1.5 million lottery fund draw for summer school maintenance projects, including roof replacements and repairs at the Child Nutrition Building at $46,774, Union Pines High School CTE Agriculture/Automotive building at $152,992, and North Moore High School canopy roof at $246,890, along with engineering fees and replacement of lift stations at West Pine Middle and Sandhills Farm Life Elementary, estimated at $1,053,344.

Moore County Schools proposed a $167.7 million budget for 2026–27, requesting $41.27 million, a $1.77 million increase.

The $1.61 million increase stemmed from fixed costs such as salary adjustments, benefits, inflation, and charter school growth. A conservative approach relies on modest revenue and $1.7 million fund balance to maintain services.

The district shared a presentation.

Chairman Nick Picerno said that in 2023 the school’s fund balance was at $12 million and increased the next year to $14 million, and this year decreased to $13.4 million. He asked for an explanation.

Interim Superintendent Jennifer Purvis attributed the changes to teacher vacancies.  

However, “Moore County Schools’ proposed $167.7M budget faces $428,000 shortfall” from March 3, 2026, shares:

“Member Steve Johnson said the higher than expected general fund base was due to not awarding pay raises. When he said special education teachers, not funded by the state, needed support by legislation, Interim Superintendent Jennifer Purvis clarified that county commissioners are seeking legislative support.

On top of all this, aging facilities, without maintenance and repairs, weigh heavily on the district.

While the budget shows conservatism, federal compliance, and transparency of fixed costs, it reveals a need to tighten spending and use the fund balance instead of reserves.

Former Superintendent Tim Locklair proposed changing the minimum reserve fund balance from the longstanding $2 million practice for FY 2025-26. On Oct.13, 2025, he recommended lowering that reserve floor, saying to reduce it down to $1.5 million or $1 million to allow for state-mandated salary increases. The board approved his proposal.”

View the Moore County Schools video on Oct. 13, 2025, beginning at 4:05 minutes to hear the conversation on reducing the fund balance reserves and Locklair’s reply on how he might be able to replace the half a million.

At the Oct. 13, 2025, meeting, Member Pauline Bruno said she believed they were headed down the wrong road, and Hensley said the 2024-25 budget was $166 million, not a million less, as Locklair said, and the final budget spend left $685,404 in the fund balance.

The growth of enrollment and fund balance, according to Hensley, needed to be the focus for the county commissioners and legislators when calculating the budget needs.

“I just want to know where the money goes,” Hensley said at the Oct. 13, 2025, meeting because enrollment had increased by only 200, and they had inadequate pay raises but increased the budget.

Picerno said they had funded the district slightly over 40% to cover the SROs, and since the board formally approved the sheriff’s office deputies to cover school security at their May 5 meeting, the county will fund schools based on the original amount of 38.5%.

Sheriff

The board approved a five-year contract for security equipment from Securitas Technology Corporation for the Moore County Sheriff’s Department at $198,000 over five years, with an annual cost of $39,600, which is already budgeted under operational equipment.

Commissioners approved a $283,050 contract with Moseley Architects for professional architectural and engineering services related to the Moore County Sheriff’s Forensic Services Facility.

The 7,000-square-foot building will be located near the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center. The estimated cost for completion is $3,330,000, with an overall budget of $4 million.

Major Eric Galloway said they would provide faster test results and speed up courtroom cases.

“Hopefully this will encourage people who to want to commit a crime not to come to Moore County,” Vice-Chairman Jim Von Canon said.

Public Hearings

Moore County will hold a public hearing on May 19 for three proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) changes.

The UDO’s accessory uses and structures section (Chapter 6) may be amended. The amendment adds a new section exempting certain government facilities. Usual accessory building rules on size, placement, and dimensions would not apply. View recommended standards and uses here.

The board will consider allowing barber, beauty, and nail salons in B-1 zones without special approval. Older rules allowed these businesses; a 2022 update excluded them. The change suits B-1 zones, intended for neighborhood-serving small businesses with minimal residential impact, according to officials. The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval, and there is no expected financial impact to the county.

The county may modify UDO accessory building setback rules in residential areas. View  recommended changes here.

HB 1089

Commissioners adopted a resolution of support for North Carolina House Bill 1089, which is awaiting Senate approval and requires a constitutional amendment to cap local tax increases and a possible moratorium on 2026 revaluations due to rising home values.

The next commissioners’ meeting is May 19.

The next joint commissioners and planning board meeting is May 18 at 3 p.m.

May 6, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

Subscribe to Sandhills News and support this conservative flagship journalism with advertising.

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.

Sandhills News is plain-English local government reporting that explains how decisions affect your land, taxes, schools and rights.