AN ACT to appropriate funds for various projectS in house district 119, TO make CHANGES TO SMALL COUNTY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING, TO REMOVE LOCAL MINIMUM EFFORT REQUIREMENT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING IN LOW‑WEALTH COUNTIES, and TO appropriate funds to implement this act.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

FUNDING FOR THE TOWN OF WEBSTER

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of one hundred sixty‑five thousand five hundred dollars ($165,500) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Town of Webster to be used as follows:

(1)        One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for capital improvements and purchase of accessible playground equipment at Webster Park.

(2)        Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to install a flood gauge on the Tuckasegee River in Webster.

FUNDING FOR THE TOWN OF BRYSON CITY

SECTION 2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of two million three hundred ninety thousand five hundred fifty dollars ($2,390,550) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Town of Bryson City to be used as follows:

(1)        Five hundred forty thousand dollars ($540,000) for a new pumper truck.

(2)        Four hundred fifty thousand five hundred fifty dollars ($450,550) for fire hydrant repair and replacements.

(3)        One million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) to provide Main Street pedestrian crosswalk safety improvements.

SECTION 2.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to be allocated to the Water Infrastructure Fund and used to provide a grant to the Town of Bryson City for planning, engineering, or construction of improvements to water and wastewater systems associated with the proposed new Swain County Middle School campus.

FUNDING FOR SWAIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to be allocated to the Water Infrastructure Fund and used to provide a grant to Swain County for replacement of sewer lines serving Swain County High School.

CHANGES TO SMALL COUNTY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 115C‑472.18(a) reads as rewritten:

(a)      Allotment Schedule. – Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, each eligible county school administrative unit shall receive a dollar allotment according to the following schedule, on the basis of allotted ADM for the county school administrative unit, to the extent funds are made available for this purpose:

Allotted ADM                             Small County Allotment

0‑1,300                                       $1,820,000

1,301‑1,700                                       $1,774,700

1,701‑2,000                              $1,729,400$2,300,000

2,001‑2,300                                       $1,684,100

2,301‑2,600                                       $1,638,800

2,601‑2,800                                       $1,593,500

2,801‑3,300                                       $1,548,200

SECTION 4.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of three million three hundred nine thousand four hundred eighty dollars ($3,309,480) in recurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to implement this section.

REMOVE LOCAL MINIMUM EFFORT REQUIREMENT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING IN LOW‑WEALTH COUNTIES

SECTION 5.(a)  Subsection (d) of G.S. 115C‑472.17 reads as rewritten:

(d)      Allocation of Funds. – Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, the The amount received per average daily membership for a county shall be the difference between the State average current expense appropriations per student and the current expense appropriations per student that the county could provide given the county's wealth and an average effort to fund public schools. To derive the current expense appropriations per student that the county could be able to provide given the county's wealth and an average effort to fund public schools, multiply the county's wealth as a percentage of State average wealth by the State average current expense appropriations per student. The funds for the local school administrative units located in whole or in part in the county shall be allocated to each local school administrative unit located in whole or in part in the county based on the average daily membership of the county's students in the school units. If the funds appropriated for supplemental funding are not adequate to fund the formula fully, each local school administrative unit shall receive a pro rata share of the funds appropriated for supplemental funding.

SECTION 5.(b)  Subsection (f) of G.S. 115C‑472.17 is repealed.

SECTION 5.(c)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of eighteen million five hundred thousand dollars ($18,500,000) in recurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to implement this section.

FUNDS FOR RADAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

SECTION 6.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina to be allocated to the University of North Carolina at Asheville for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year the following amounts for the following purposes:

(1)        Seventeen million dollars ($17,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the procurement and installation of up to three weather radar systems in locations throughout the State, including other necessary one‑time expenses related to that process.

(2)        Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in recurring funds for the operation and maintenance of the radar systems described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, including associated personnel costs.

SECTION 6.(b)  No later than February 15, 2034, the University of North Carolina at Asheville shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the costs needed to ensure the radar systems described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section continue to operate, including necessary maintenance and upgrades.

FUNDING FOR SMOKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FACILITIES

SECTION 7.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to be allocated as a directed grant to Jackson County Public Schools the sum of nine million three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($9,350,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year for the following purposes at Smoky Mountain High School:

(1)        Baseball and softball field lights.

(2)        Install a regulation‑size running track.

(3)        Build a concession stand and restrooms on the visitor's side of the athletic complex.

(4)        Install ramps to make the bleachers of the athletic complex accessible to people with disabilities recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

FUNDING FOR THE FISHES & LOAVES FOOD PANTRY

SECTION 8.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of two hundred thirty thousand dollars ($230,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry, Inc., a nonprofit organization, to renovate and expand its food pantry facility.

FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF BREVARD

SECTION 9.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the City of Brevard to be used as follows:

(1)        Four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for restrooms and paving at the Brevard Recreation Complex.

(2)        One million dollars ($1,000,000) for the Brevard Fire Department engine replacement.

(3)        One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the City of Brevard Facility Study.

SECTION 9.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality the sum of eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to be allocated to the Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments Fund and used to provide a grant to the City of Brevard for the Jumping Branch watershed improvements as detailed in the City's stormwater master plan.

FUNDING FOR CEDAR MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE

SECTION 10.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of nine hundred twenty‑five thousand nine hundred fifty‑four dollars ($925,954) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Cedar Mountain Volunteer Fire Rescue, Inc., a nonprofit organization, to be used as follows:

(1)        Seven hundred thirty‑seven thousand nine hundred four dollars ($737,904) to purchase a new engine.

(2)        One hundred eighty‑eight thousand fifty dollars ($188,050) to update equipment.

FUNDING FOR AWAKE

SECTION 11.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Adults Working and Advocating for Kids' Empowerment, Inc. (AWAKE), a nonprofit organization, to assist the organization with expenses.

FUNDING FOR TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

SECTION 12.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to be allocated as a directed grant to Transylvania County Public Schools the sum of twenty‑eight million four hundred fifty‑three thousand dollars ($28,453,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year for the following purposes:

(1)        To obtain tutoring services for students from the StudyVille program.

(2)        To demolish and rebuild the cafeteria and gymnasium at Brevard High School.

(3)        To bring Rosman Elementary School to current fire code standards by installing a sprinkler system and replacing the heating and air conditioning system. If these upgrades are completed, then also to replace the roof of the school as completing the upgrades will provide easier access to the roof and the upgrades may potentially weaken the existing roof.

SECTION 12.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality the sum of fifty‑four million dollars ($54,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to be allocated to the Water Infrastructure Fund and used to provide a grant to the City of Brevard for the following purposes:

(1)        Fifty‑two million dollars ($52,000,000) for replacement of the City's wastewater treatment plant.

(2)        Two million dollars ($2,000,000) for inflow and infiltration improvements in the upper portion of the Brushy Creek basin.

FUNDS FOR BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SECTION 13.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community College System Office the following amounts in nonrecurring funds to be allocated to Blue Ridge Community College for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year for the following purposes:

(1)        Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) for a new student center. The student center would house the library, food services, a bookstore, counselors, study and collaborative rooms, computer labs, a print shop, student government, office space, student support services, transfer guidance, and a university center.

(2)        Eight million dollars ($8,000,000) for a new building for groundskeeping and horticulture uses, including maintenance, groundskeeping, storage, and shipping and receiving services.

(3)        Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) for a new classroom building to account for increased enrollment.

(4)        Five hundred fifty‑six thousand dollars ($556,000) for an automated greenhouse.

(5)        One million dollars ($1,000,000) to renovate the Bo Thomas Auditorium.

(6)        Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to renovate and provide additional equipment to the welding technology laboratory.

FUNDS FOR THE TOWN OF DILLSBORO

SECTION 14.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of one million five hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,550,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Town of Dillsboro to be used as follows:

(1)        Five hundred fifty thousand dollars ($550,000) for water and sewer expansion.

(2)        One million dollars ($1,000,000) for improvements at Montieth Park, including paving the parking lot to accommodate the Americans with Disabilities Act and updating the lighting for safety and security at Montieth Park.

CARRYFORWARD

SECTION 15.  Notwithstanding any provision of G.S. 143C‑1‑2(b), nonrecurring funds appropriated by this act shall not revert on June 30, 2025, but shall remain available for the purposes identified in this act until expended.

EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 16.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2024.