Presenter explains why developers can't be charged school impact fees in Brunswick County

A presenter in the "Bond in Focus" series said North Carolina law prevents counties from imposing school impact fees to pay for new school construction and that a bond referendum would change how the county can finance school projects, not whether additional schools are needed.

"Under current North Carolina law, counties do not have general authority to charge developers a school impact fee to pay for new school construction or any other infrastructure," the presenter said. The presenter added that any authority to enact such a fee would have to come from the North Carolina General Assembly.

The presentation described how state and local responsibilities are divided: the presenter said the state generally funds instruction and school operations while county government is responsible for providing school facilities and ensuring enough seats for students. The presenter said elementary schools across the county are operating at approximately 93% capacity, that several schools—mostly in the North—are already over capacity, and that mobile classrooms are being used across the district.

According to the presenter, a yes vote on the bond would authorize the county to use general obligation bonds to pay for the projects listed in the referendum; if the bond does not pass, the presenter said the county and school system would still need to address capacity needs but would have to pursue a different funding path. The presenter also emphasized that Brunswick County Schools does not approve subdivisions or control residential development; those decisions are made through county and municipal land-use processes under state law.

The presenter closed by saying the series will continue to answer questions about the bond and provide information ahead of November.