Report, Eritas, research, conclusions and opinions by Robert A
Folks, In Robert A’s original article it was clearly shown that Cleveland County REVENUE in the FY 25-26 Budget was almost $195 Million$. And, the expected Expenditures are $240.3 Million$. The Commissioners are set to spend $45.3 Million$ MORE than they take in. So, where is this big bank that Commissioners Kevin Gordon, Deb Hardin, Johnny Hutchins and Doug Bridges intend to ROB to come up with an additional $45.3 Million$ to have a so-called balanced budget in FY 25-26???”
The answer to that Question is not explicitly disclosed or explained in the Recommended FY 25-26 CC Budget. However, the answer was only hinted at in the Budget’s explanation of where a $7 Million$ revenue item was attributed to interest being paid on a $105 Million$ State Government Grant. That so-called $105 Million$ State Government “Grant” was actually an accumulation of three separate fund transfers from the State Of North Carolina Arranged by Speaker of the House Tim Moore to help pay for the expensive, and unnecessary New CC Justice Center Project whose costs have doubled and doubled again since it first was sneaked into prior years’ budgets at an estimated “Cost” of $ 98 Million$. That soon doubled to $197 Million$ and has secretly Doubled again to around $400 Million$. Plus, another $100 Million$ in interest onto the loans Cleveland County will have to take out very soon to pay their share of the New Justice Center’s cost of construction.
So, Folks! The Kevin Gordon, Deb Hardin, Johnny Hutchins and Doug Bridges Crowd of CC Commissioners have deceptively and fraudulently “balanced” their FY25-26 budget by not only raising everybody’s Property Taxes and various fees, but by “stealing” $45.3 Million$ from the $105 Million$ the State of NC has already put up for the construction of the New Justice Center Project. That is $45.3 Million$ that will have to be paid back by Cleveland County Taxpayers in the budgets for later Fiscal Years, Plus Cleveland County’s matching amount of another $105 Million$. If we are lucky.
So, Mr. Robert A Williams, what can be done$$$
Folks, Like Robert A published in his last article, You can also come to the June 3, 2025 Commissioner’s Meeting and sign up to speak (for or against) the Budget Public Hearing. You will have 5 minutes each to tell Commissioners Kevin Gordon, Deb Hardin, Johnny Hutchins and Doug Bridges how much you appreciate them emptying out your bank account to pay for an unnecessary New Justice Center Project while leaving CCS Schools with 60 to 80 year old school buildings with leaking roofs and not teaching our students how to read, write and do numbers.
Or maybe you can appeal to Commissioner Tony Berry, the only one with any sense, to VOTE NO on raising YOUR TAX BILLS.
Actually, since Commissioners Deb Hardin and Doug Bridges are up for re-election, (the 2026 Primary Elections are only NINE months away), perhaps Deb Hardin and Doug Bridges will see the light and will join Tony Berry and vote NO to this monstrosity of a FY 25-26 budget. Only THREE votes AGAINST and this sorry budget is history.
And Kevin Gordon and Johnny Hutchins are then just like Cartoon Characters!!! To be laughed at and forever shunned by the CC taxpayers and voters.
FOLKS, Turnout This coming Tuesday Night (June 3, 2025) at 6:00 PM and let Deb Hardin, Doug Bridges and Tony Berry know the Citizens, TAXPAYERS and Voters of CC do NOT want higher TAX Bills. This will be a Public Hearing and YOU have 5 minutes to speak!!! (Don’t Forget to sign up before the meeting starts!!!
