Murphy – Cherokee County commissioners approved $288,085 in sales tax expenditures for several Cherokee County Schools projects, but rejected one – $69,750, reimbursable by the state – for equipment to recharge the district’s electric bus.
The $288,085 covered eight projects, with most – $241,029 – going to Hiwassee Dam middle and high schools for parking lot paving and retaining wall projects. Hiwassee Dam also received $7,170 for a water tank installation.
The next largest group of expenditures went to Murphy Elementary School for gym wall padding, cafeteria awning and gym restroom tiling at a total cost of $27,924.
Ranger Elementary received approval for $11,962 in expenditures for chiller work.
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Funding for the projects came from Article 40-42 sales tax proceeds, leaving a balance of $5.25 million in that account for schools’ use. The board of commissioners approved the expenditures unanimously during the board’s Oct. 7 meeting.
The request for $69,750 was a different matter. It was the second time the request came up after the board asked for more information when it was first requested.
The board wanted to know of any future obligations if it approved the funding request. County leaders have questioned how effective an electric bus would be in a mountain environment, especially during cold winter months when batteries are far less efficient.
By the time the request came up a second time, western North Carolina was severely impacted by the remnants of Category 4 Hurricane Helene in late September. The storm caused widespread power outages, putting recharging stations out of commission and causing fires when electric vehicles were exposed to flooding.
During the second request, board members saw that electricity for the bus would be about $300 per month. And the school district requires state approval to back out of the contract.
The issue is essentially moot, however, since the school district already received the bus and the charging equipment in 2023, county attorney Darryl Brown said. Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Keevin Woody signed the agreement with the state in March 2023.
“These bills are a year old,” County Manager Randy Wiggins pointed out.
Cherokee County Schools officials were seeking a way to pay the expense from sales tax proceeds rather than the district’s fund balance.
“We’re just asking you for our own money,” Woody said.
County Commissioner Dan Eichenbaum described electric buses as a “money pit” and objected to the open-ended nature of the school district’s agreement with the state.
“I don’t think it’s a good deal,” Eichenbaum said.
Commissioner Ben Adams initially made a motion to approve the expense, but withdrew his motion when he realized the school district already signed the contract without commissioners’ approval.
Without board approval, the expense will have to be paid from the school district’s fund balance. Either way, the $69,750 is reimbursable by the state – as long as the state approves how the money was used.
Eichenbaum offered Woody this advice: “Don’t sign contracts without checking with us,” he said.