Budget issues and federal stimulus money captured the attention of the Moore County Board of Commissioners at the Monday night meeting.

The commissioners received budget requests from the public schools, Sandhills Community College and Sandhills Center, all including no increases in their fiscal year 2009-10 budgets.

Following their presentations, the County Government Efficiency Advisory Board gave a report on conclusions from its study of the budget situation.

Dick Westcott, acting chairman of the efficiency panel, read a report in which the advisory board came to the conclusion that a tax rate reduction is not feasible at this time.

The three institutions, along with all county departments, had been advised several months ago that, because of economic conditions, there would be no budget increases for 2009-10, and the budgets presented by the schools, the college and the mental health center reflected that instruction.

Dr. Susan Purser, school superintendent, reported that her board has approved a budget identical to the 2008-09 budget. The total of $26 million includes $24,935,195 for current expenses and $1,333,950 for capital outlay, a figure that reflects a one-time Medicaid payment.

Purser said the schools must find a way to absorb a $773,000 operational increase next year, along with sharp funding decreases from the state. Gov. Beverly Perdue has proposed a budget that would slash more than $2 million from the Moore County Schools, and the state Senate has proposed a similar budget cut. The state House is not expected to present its budget until late May, but that figure has the potential for a 17- to 20-percent reduction.

Dr. John Dempsey, president of Sandhills Community College, presented a similar grim picture with a zero growth budget totaling $4,185,541, of which $4.1 million-plus is for current expenses. He admitted that it will be tough to meet that budget, especially considering a 10 percent increase in enrollment and the training needs generated by the high unemployment rate.

However, Dempsey thanked the commissioners for their understanding and help through the years.

"We could not ask for more cooperation," Dempsey said. "We could not ask for more support."

Michael Watson, executive director of Sandhills Mental Health Center, likewise asked for no increase in a budget for the new fiscal year but pointed out that the center has not asked for an increase for the past five years.

The center's total funding request is $587,265, but only $298,107 of that is local money. The rest is flow-through federal or state money that is channeled through the center to special programs.

In other business, the commissioners agreed to submit an application for $3.5 million for a grant and a low-interest loan through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as federal stimulus money. If approved, the money will be applied to utility needs in Pinehurst.

The board also called a public hearing for the May 4 meeting to consider another application for stimulus funds, this time $693,452 to be applied to capital projects for Moore County Transportation Services.

More details will appear in the print version of The Pilot.