Lee County: “There is absolutely no reason our taxes should be increased this year,” says Jim Womack

Lee County Commissioners held public hearings for the proposed budget and proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at the June 1 meeting. Rapid growth led to Lee County’s proposed $127.86 million budget for 2026-27, with property taxes rising from .65 to .70 cents per $100 valuation.

“There is absolutely no reason our taxes should be increased this year,” Jim Womack, spouse of Lee County Board of Education Chairperson Sherry Womack, said during the budget’s public hearing, before explaining how to realign the budget and maintain the tax rate at .65 cents. He is a former commissioner. (View the video at 1:13).

Womack said the budget was unsupportable and had the worst spending proposal he’d seen in 20 years. He noticed an unjustifiable increase for the “Sanford Area Growth Alliance (SAGA) from $190,000 to $355,000. By the original agreement we put together back in 2013, SAGA should only be getting 50% of its funding from government, but it appears as much as 80% of its efforts are provided by the city and the county.”

Womack noted taxpayers are still chipping away at the flashy $40 million athletic park and the $30 million “Taj Mahal” library, both of which were not necessary. He suggested reducing staff at the new park and library to save taxpayer costs and increase rental fees. Womack explained that renters are hit the hardest because property tax increases were passed onto renters, so the commissioners should reduce property taxes.

Read Lee County proposed budget increases taxes while schools fall short.

Tony Jones said he was amazed the county could not provide essential services.

Mike Poventa said he was in favor of a tax increase to invest in public schools.

Allen Rummel, Vice Chair on the Lee County Board of Education, said he was speaking as a private citizen. He said the city’s annexing exorbitant growth added to the county’s burden to navigate growth. He did not support the tax increase. He said by law, counties must support public education and emergency services. He criticized the library and athletic park funding because they were not required by law. Rummel said the school district’s audit saved millions of dollars when they reduced contract services, restructured cleaning, and cut excess software programs, and moved about a million by moving students from a school needing costly updates. He said he was not suggesting malicious waste, but the government’s self-feeding machine needed review and “intentional oversight.”

David Smoak said he knew the full tax increase would not be approved. He said the county grew by 11% since 2020, which did not jibe with the 50% and more increases in county service fees.

Aaron Rainer, a teacher in Lee County, said Lee County did not spend a competitive percentage on schools. He said Lee was one of the fastest growing and must update infrastructure, and while the attractions, the library and parks, were nice, the county had not invested in community. He said students with low-income backgrounds needed support. Educated citizens mean less crime.

Kayla Labaldo, a parent of students, said the budget was a result of low federal and state funding. “It is crucial local government step up,” she said about supporting tax increases to improve public education.

Tonya Graham, with Haven House, supports domestic violence survivors. She listed the benefits of their services and said federal cuts loomed at 10% while needs continue to grow. She requested a “meaningful” level of financial support.

Jennifer Ashley explained how financial recording errors had not been corrected, and the fire and EMS services were called to continue the same level of support with a $35,000 shortfall. She said the fire departments were falling behind every day.

Gwendolyn Lee Cooper with Helping Hand Clinic said for more than 30 years they supplied no-cost healthcare to the most vulnerable people. She said the county reduced support through the years and now from $2,500 down to $1,250 with a reimbursable grant. She asked the board to reconsider the low funding amount.

Bill Huggins, the chairman of the Helping Hand Clinic, said they treated people referred by the health department and the local hospital. He said most businesses can’t afford to pay for health insurance. He said the reimbursable grant meant they had to spend money, and the county refunds the clinic. The most needed program was teaching people how to eat healthy foods and providing the food.

Diana S. with the Helping Hand Clinic said 71% of the $1 million saved in unwarranted hospital visits were Lee County citizens treated at the clinic, but none of those funds had reached the clinic.

Angie Licata, a native of Lee County and a school nurse for 16 years said she had been naïve about the position’s broad scope, from general to mental health reporting to the state. “I have a little bit different outlook.” She said research showed strong funding improved quality of life for communities. “Schools are the cornerstone of our communities.”

Angie L. said the teacher retention crisis was alive and well in Lee County because they were behind in pay. For example, she shared the state will not increase her pay for the next ten years, even with continued inflation.

The board honored Marcus Mason for his service to Lee County after his death in a house fire on May 27. Mason faithfully served the citizens of Lee County as a member of the Lee County Board of Education, demonstrating a sincere commitment to students, educators, families and the future of public education.

Public Hearing on the Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

Allen Rummel spoke during the CIP public hearing and said the school board and county commissioners had a history of miscommunication. In April, the school district sent a CIP needs list and continues to send updates now.

David Smoak said 18 months ago the county presented a $6 million CIP and approved it without increasing taxes, and now the county has a remarkably higher CIP budget at $69 million. He said the CIP should be up for a public vote. He said there was no excuse not to let taxpayers decide how they want to spend their money except fear of voters not passing the CIP. He asked commissioners to vote against the proposed CIP.

Review of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

SCHOOLS

The board recommended delaying over $277 million in school-related projects until 2027-2031. That delay includes a new elementary school forecast all the way out to 2030-31.

In recent years, the county has spent about $9 million on the purchase of the former Magnetti Marelli (MM) plant, which is now Central Carolina Community College’s (CCCC) E. Eugene Moore Manufacturing and Biotech Solutions Center. Taxpayers continue to pay for the ongoing monitoring of the hazardous waste removal at $122,000 annually.

Lee County has spent about $40 million on the new athletic park and has annual operating costs at $500,000. Plus, according to the May 4 report on parks, it needs $246,275 in updates.

The county already had 10 parks, which all need renovations. Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Keel presented updates and requests on May 4 for the county parks totaling about $3,011,600.

Citizens may question the need for the purchase the MM building. Yes, it was near the college, but the college has a nearly empty building in the industrial park now up for sale that may have sufficed.

Could Lee County have saved taxpayers money and invested instead in school capital improvement projects by thinking conservatively about preserving existing infrastructure?

Does the county need an oversight committee?

It has spent about $49 million and allocated $622,000 annually toward the park’s operating costs and monitoring the MM hazardous waste.

Yet, Deep River Elementary School is at capacity now, and when school begins next fall, it will be over capacity. The cost for a new elementary school is around $61 million.

The CIP recommended not building a new middle school or rebuilding Lee County High Schools’ stadium until after 2031 at an estimated cost of $75 million.

For 2026-27, the board recommended funding Southern Lee High School’s auditorium and six classrooms at $14,332,450, Southern Lee High School’s chiller and pump replacement at $1,509,351 and the SanLee Middle Schools’ chiller and pump replacement at $1,509,351.

The board delayed East Lee and West Lee Middle Schools’ gym renovations and classrooms until 2027-28.

It recommended 2028-29 for the Lee County High School renovations.

The district-wide infrastructure renovations were delayed until 2029-30.

In 2030-31, the county may see the new 850-seat elementary school and Bragg Street Academy renovations.

Lee County School Chairperson Sherry Womack introduced a resolution for the county and city to collaborate with the school district to achieve capacity standards. The school district adopted her resolution.

The county and city have yet to adopt the resolution. Review the resolution here.

Citizens may want to contact their representatives to request legislation for school capacity and development, such as House Bill 1119.

The CIP prioritized public safety, including $5,922,500 for land acquisition for a new law enforcement center, a $742,630 emergency management mobile command post and a $2,400,000 fire and EMS training facility at Central Carolina Community College.

It delayed building a new jail and sheriff’s office beyond 2031 at an estimated $148,144,001.

Renovations to the Moore Center (former MM) and the relocation of Lee Early College are both Central Carolina Community College expenses.

The recommended funding schedule no longer included improvements like the O.T. Sloan Park Recreation Center, O.T. Sloan Park Aquatic Center, and Endor Iron Furnace Park, as they were either removed or postponed.

The board honored Marcus Mason for his service to Lee County after his death in a house fire on May 27. Mason faithfully served the citizens of Lee County as a member of the Lee County Board of Education, demonstrating a sincere commitment to students, educators, families and the future of public education.

June 2, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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References

Magnetti Mareli purchase and ongoing hazardous waste remediation. https://sandhills.news/2025/12/13/environmental-contamination-prevention/

Parks. https://sandhills.news/2026/05/05/lee-county-commissioners-talk-vote-of-no-confidence-in-chair-park-and-school-funding/

Recommended Budget. https://sandhills.news/2026/05/18/lee-county-proposed-budget-2026-27/

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