# June 24, 2026 Board of County Commissioners Special Joint Meeting

The June 24, 2026 special joint meeting of the Pender County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education focused primarily on the 2026-27 school budget and funding challenges. School officials and community members presented concerns about underfunding, highlighting the impact of budget shortfalls on instructional support positions such as instructional coaches, beginning teacher mentors, and exceptional children coordinators. The school system requested an additional $4 million to maintain services, but the county initially allocated approximately $2.8 million less than requested. Discussions included the financial strain caused by rapid residential growth, the disparity in state funding, and the need for long-term planning. The Board of Commissioners debated options including using county fund balance reserves to cover the $2.7 million funding gap for the upcoming year without raising taxes. Ultimately, the board unanimously voted to amend the budget ordinance to provide the additional $2.7 million requested by the schools, signaling a temporary stopgap measure while planning for future funding. The meeting also touched on capital projects, asset management, and the importance of lobbying the state legislature for better funding policies.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education, Professional Services
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Policy
**Published:** June 24, 2026

### Sources
- [June 24, 2026 Board of County Commissioners Special Joint Meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S56zDeTqeU) - Pender County