Smoak doesn't hold back thoughts in hearing on CIP
Only one person spoke Monday during the public hearing on the proposed FY 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan and he left the Lee County Board of Commissioners no doubt about his position.
'I think the CIP is overly ambitious and I think funding for non-essential projects should be set through a general obligation bond vote that would get a lower interest rate,' David Smoak of Carolina Trace said.
'It would allow the citizens to vote for their own tax increases plus shielding you from at least some of the complaints.'
'The County's Capital Improvement Plan is our strategic financial plan for major capital improvement (projects exceeding $500,000 in cost),' County Manager Lisa Minter explained in her overview of the plan.
The projects are scheduled over a five-year period based on need and cost.
Requests from county departments for this CIP totaled $305,527,229, an increase of $7 million from the current year, she said.
Minter's recommended five-year plan includes 25 county-funded projects totaling $291,025,282.
'This large number of projects reflect the population growth we are seeing across the county,' she said.
The projects in the plan include securing land for a new elementary school, construction of an auditorium and additional classrooms at Southern Lee High School, construction of a law enforcement center to house the Lee County Sheriff's Office and jail and funding for construction of a building and tower at a new training center for emergency management, fire departments and law enforcement.
Depending on money collected through tax revenue, state and federal funding/grants and the NC Education Lottery, it's possible that the property tax could increase by 9.73 cents in 2026.
Smoak offered what he believes are three options the commissioners have with the CIP.
'First is to reject this plan and ask the county manager to present a plan that doesn't raise our tax rate. I would tell her to put all options on the table including the operating and personnel budget for the county,' he said.
The second option, Smoak said, would be to approve the presented plan in June 'and to have the courage of your conviction to go ahead and vote for a 10-cent property increase to support this.'
'The third and worst choice would be to vote for the spending plan as is but avoiding paying (for projects) until you're forced to,' Smoak said.
Commissioner Samantha Martin read a letter she received from Jim Womack of Sanford who said the top priority is Southern Lee High School. He suggested building a new school at the old Jonesboro School rather than purchasing land.
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