Moore County highlights limited subdivision land, school facility needs reach $167.7M

Moore County Commissioners reviewed acreage available for major subdivisions, heard concerns over Flock safety cameras and Eastwood Fire Department funding, and learned schools face $167.6 million in facility needs at the July 21 meeting.

Moore County has three zoning classifications that allow major subdivisions.

RA20 has 972 acres available out of 350,000 acres.

RA40 has 5,900 acres available out of 17,000 acres.

RAUSB has 12,000 acres available out of 3,000 acres.

“In the last five years, we have approved one major subdivision with 27 homes,” Chairman Nick Picerno said.

Learn specifics on Moore County land availability for all zoning types, as first reported in Sandhills News’ article News Lines: June 23-July 12 in Moore, Lee & Harnett.

Read the planning board discussion in Full Story: Moore County Planning Board shudders by right major subdivisions.

During public comments, two speakers opposed Flock cameras, an endeavor reportedly requested by the sheriff’s department without first meeting with commissioners to discuss details prior to commissioners approving funds.

Citizens said the cameras were recently ruled by the Supreme Court as a 4^th Amendment violation and that they were a weapon that could protect or harm. Because the cameras record vehicle identification and faces, they jeopardize the U.S. Military’s Special Forces and Delta soldiers who have global enemies.

Picerno said he would schedule a meeting with the sheriff’s department.

Eastwood Fire Department Chief Scott Bullard stated that the department felt shell-shocked and mistrustful of the commissioners because the commissioners did not consult them about funding. Instead, the department discovered from the agenda that they would have to pay for half an engine.

The agenda reads, “The Eastwood Fire Department is 100% County funded and has been good stewards of their funding. Their unrestricted balance has grown over the last few years and provides enough funding to cover 50% of the engine and still leave enough of a balance to cover current year expenses and any emergency expenses that may come up. The County proposes to cover 50% of the cost of the engine with County funds from 216 (annual capital) and 258 (Fire Capital Reserve) in the amount of $321,645.”

During a discussion, County Manager Wayne Vest said the purchase agreement was correct and that the 100% county funding was correct because they funded fire departments’ individual fund balances.

The board approved the shared engine expense for Eastwood.

Bullard said Eastwood needed to spend about $1.5 million on new fire engines over the next five years. They have one truck that will be past service life next year, one that is currently 15 years past its service life, and one that is 10 years past its service life.

Commissioner Tom Adams asked how communication confusion over the engine purchase originated.

Vest said the demo engine purchase became available this year and the county needed to act quickly. “We knew we had the fund 216 fire capital…We didn’t talk about the specifics of the funding plan.” He said the county will now work directly with fire chief in funding needs with its restructuring. The board dissolved the Moore County Fire Commission and will now work with the Moore County Fire Chiefs’ Association.

Phillip Davis spoke about the Davis Community Center. He said it served the northern part of the county, and he’d created educational and social service programs, and the deed for the property with the board of education had restrictions. The deed restricts uses to recreation, human services and education. He said his programs enhanced the deed’s uses and included collaboration with other departments to sustain it in the future. He asked the board to review his proposal and advise on next steps for purchase. The Davis Center is owned by the county, needs maintenance, and is at 4799 North Carolina Highway 705 in Robbins.

Andy Conway with the sheriff’s office, said he would welcome a discussion on the Flock cameras to tell them the other side of the story. He said people did not own their license plates but rented them from the state. He asked the speakers to give him one piece of evidence to show the film could be altered. He said the Flock company did not supply evidence.

Read about hackers accessing public cameras here, and here and learn why criminologists say cameras do not help deter crime here.

Truth in Taxation

Senate Bill 992 is expected to become law, and 2027 is a reevaluation year for Moore County.

This bill enforces transparency with postal mail and by publishing prior notice of public hearings on tax increases over the calculated revenue-neutral rate. Without notice, taxpayers can be refunded.

Counties manage their tax reevaluations separately from municipalities.

Picerno said he did not appreciate the burden on Moore County because they kept property taxes below the neutral rate.

Commissioners will send a resolution to the General Assembly stating that sending first-class notices in postal mail was an excess cost and unnecessary.

Moore County Schools

Superintendent Jennifer Purvis and Assistant Superintendent Pam Patterson presented the Moore County Schools’ facility needs survey results. It shows over $9.1 million in capital improvement needs. Pinecrest High School (over capacity) needs $2,950,389, followed by Union Pines High School (over capacity) at $1,308,624 and the Community Learning Center at Pinckney at $616,828.

The district needs a new West Sandhills High School (unofficial name) as a six-to-10-year project. The 1,400-student high school is projected to cost over $106 million.

The district also plans a replacement Carthage Elementary within five years. The estimated cost for the new 400-student elementary school is $51,697,603, which includes all associated expenses.

The two new school projects are estimated to cost $158,522,903. Total facility needs for the district are $167,650,084, including $9,127,181 for existing school capital improvements.

The next meeting is Aug. 4 at 5:30.

July 23, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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