LOUISBURG NC -- The school board and board of commissioners agreed to use the existing $30 million from the 2004 bond for renovations at Louisburg and Bunn high schools. Because the $45-million bond was defeated May 2, the commissioners did not support another bond on the November ballot at the joint meeting in the commissioners meeting room May 23.

"We are responsible to the citizens of the county," said Chairman Rev. Sidney Dunston of the board of commissioners.

Board of Education Chairman Bernard Hall told the commissioners to help them stay on track because "the needs still exist."

Hall said the school board supports a resolution for a half cent sales tax increase as an option for more revenue for the schools.

County Manager Chris Coudriet said that the $30 million approved in 2004 should be spent now.

School Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme said it would be "pay as you go," and report to the commissioners every month their expenditures.

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The bids for Bunn High School are due by May 29 and by mid-June for Louisburg High School.

Republican Commissioner Don Lancaster said the $30 million from the 2004 bond should go "as far as possible with it."

Democrat Commissioner Robert Lee Swanson made the motion to spend the $30 million and Democrat Jimmie Gupton seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

The resolution for support of a half cent sales tax increase was approved by the school board, but Democrat Commissioner Raymond Stone said a tax increase "flows out of Franklin County," and does not produce the revenue.

Factoid: It should be noted that Tennessee, which has no income tax, but instead a nine cents sales tax. In the opinion of some, a cut or repeal of the income tax but a slightly higher sales tax would be fair to everyone.

Chairman Bernard Hall emphasized the needs still exist for the schools, but Commissioner Swanson said the citizens voted and would be a "slap in the face" for the bond to be on the November ballot.

Democrat Commissioner Lynwood Buffaloe said the needs have not gone away, but Republican Commissioner Harry Foy agreed with Swanson that the voters spoke May 2.

Commissioner Foy said he received phone calls from people who were "appalled" that another bond could be on the ballot again so soon.

Commissioner Dunston agreed and said the voters spoke a few weeks ago. He said that one of the concerns of the voters may have been the location of the proposed new Franklinton High School and what was going to happen to the current Franklinton High School. Dunston said the needs need to be discussed by both boards and to "make sure we're on the same page." 

The location of the school would have to be changed as well as what would be done to Franklinton before he could support it, Gupton said.

Coudriet said the initiation and design of the high school now could save four to five months on the bid process.

School board member John May said it sounded like "a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking."

"This board has been the most open board I have ever seen," he added.

In case you missed it:
Stires Censored by Dunston
Stires: 'I'm at a loss.'

Watch Live Election Results of the Primary Runoff Tuesday Night May 30 on the www.FranklinNCGOP.com Web site.

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