BY CHAR MORRISON | CityView Staff
Cumberland County's finances were at the heart of the board’s meeting Monday, during which commissioners approved funding for the courts and Medicaid expansion support, among other items.
Medicaid expansion
After a presentation by Social Services Director Brenda Reid Jackson outlining how the state’s Medicaid expansion will impact Cumberland County, commissioners unanimously approved $344,633 in funding to manage the anticipated increase in the number of Medicaid applicants.
North Carolina’s Medicaid expansion goes into effect Dec. 1. As a result, as many as 40,000 Cumberland residents will become eligible, on top of the county’s already existing roll of 97,000. The state’s Medicaid expansion will cover individuals between the ages of 19 and 64 with incomes higher than the federal poverty level, allowing North Carolinians who previously didn’t qualify for the health insurance program to receive financial assistance for medical costs.
The funding comes from leftover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and American Rescue Plan Act Revenue Replacement funds. The money will go toward establishing an expanded call center and registration kiosks at the county’s social services offices.
Budget amendments
As part of the consent agenda, commissioners unanimously approved amendments to the county’s budget. The amendments included:
- $10,000 grant from Volkswagen Group of America to install electric vehicle chargers at the Cumberland County Department of Public Health
- $239,824 in U.S. Department of Justice grants to be split evenly between the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Fayetteville Police Department
- $200,000 from the county’s general fund to acquire land for the county’s proposed Homeless Support Center
- $24,126 to cover medical expenses, housing and costs resulting from the Animal Services Department’s seizure of horses from Witts End Quarter Horses in September
Specialty court grants
In a unanimous vote, commissioners also approved a funding proposal from Cumberland County Specialty Courts related to three grants:
- $722,016 from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Cumberland County Adult Drug Treatment Court Enhancement Project
- $948,996 from the DOJ for the Cumberland County District 12 Veterans Treatment Court that will be used to identify and refer veterans in the system with mental health issues to treatment and support programs
- $500,000 from the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts for the Veterans Treatment Court
Other business
- Commissioners nominated Pamela Story and Dennis Cedzo to fill vacancies on the board of trustees of the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center. Both nominees have served on the board since 2020. Commissioners will formally appoint both at a future meeting.
- Appointed William Bulla to the Cumberland County Cemetery Commission. Bulla is a retired funeral director in Hope Mills.
- Declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. October is already designated as such on a national level.
- Approved, as part of the board’s consent agenda, changes and improvements to the Ann Street landfill in Cumberland County, including the addition of a new fueling station and a transfer station.
Commissioners meet again at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Cumberland County Courthouse.
Contact Char Morrison at cmorrison@cityviewnc.com.
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