Whiteville City Administrative Unit v. Columbus County Board of County Commissioners

112 S.E.2d 539 (1960) 251 N.C. 826

WHITEVILLE CITY ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT
v.
COLUMBUS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

No. 602.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

January 29, 1960.

D. Jack Hooks, Whiteville, and Jesse A. Jones, Kinston, for plaintiff-appellant.

E. K. Proctor and Powell & Powell, Whiteville, for defendant-appellee.

RODMAN, Justice.

This appeal cannot be determined without an understanding of the questions to be determined. Appellant argues the question is the right of the school authorities to select the site on which a building is to be erected. Appellee argues it has the right to determine what portion of the capital outlay budget is necessary to operate the schools.

The clerk apparently reached the conclusion that both questions were presented. He concluded the Administrative Unit had superior authority in each instance.

When a new school is to be established and monies are available, the location of the site lies exclusively with the board of education or the administrative unit charged with the responsibility of operating the schools. Parker v. Anson County, 237 N.C. 78, 74 S.E.2d 338; Kistler v. Board of Education, 233 N.C. 400, 64 S.E.2d 403; Atkins v. McAden, 229 N.C. 752, 51 S.E.2d 484. Arbitration was not necessary to establish that right. Arbitration was necessary because the Commissioners concluded a new site was not necessary for the operation of the public schools and since not necessary, they were not compelled to levy a tax for that purpose.

When the reasons for and the history of the arbitration statutes, G.S. §§ 115-87 and 88, are considered, the answer to the question presented by this appeal becomes apparent.

Art. IX, sec. 2, of the Constitution of 1868 declared a general system of public education should be provided by taxation. Sec. 3 of that article imposed the duty of operating at least one school in each district for a minimum term of four months. The duty rested on the county commissioners to provide the necessary funds.

Art. V, sec. 1, of that Constitution placed a limitation on the rate of taxation which commissioners could fix.

This Court, in 1885, held that county commissioners could not exceed the constitutional rate of taxation even if the excess were necessary to operate the public schools. Barksdale v. Sampson County Commissioners, 93 N.C. 472.

As a climax to Aycock's campaign for better public schools adequately supported by taxation, the Legislature of 1901 enacted c. 4, entitled "An Act to Revise and Consolidate the Public School Law." It provided for a State fund to be distributed among the counties. Sec. 6 provided: "If the tax levied for the State for the support of the public schools shall be insufficient to maintain one or more schools in each school district for the period of four months, then the Board of Commissioners of each county shall levy annually a special tax to supply the deficiency * * *" That Act also required the county board of education to file with the commissioners "an estimate of the amount of money necessary to maintain the schools for four months and submit it to the County Commissioners."

Acting under the authority of the Act of 1901, the county commissioners of Franklin County levied a tax for the support of the four months' term in excess of the rate permitted by Art. V of the Constitution. A taxpayer challenged the tax so levied. This Court overruled the Barksdale decision and held that commissioners were required to levy the taxes requested by the educational authorities and found by the commissioners to be necessary for the operation of the schools for the constitutional term. Collie v. Franklin County Commissioners, 145 N.C. 170, 59 S.E. 44.

In the Collie case the educational forces and the tax-levying authorities were in agreement as to the amount necessary for the operation of the schools. The Collie decision was followed by Board of Education of Cherokee County v. Board of Commissioners, 150 N.C. 116, 63 S.E. 724. There the educational authorities, complying with the Act of 1901, had filed with the tax-levying authorities a request for funds for the operation of schools for the term fixed by the Constitution. The county commissioners considered the request, approved it in part but refused to provide all the sums requested by the educational forces. The board of education sought mandamus to compel the county commissioners to comply with their request. The commissioners resisted, contending they had the duty of determining what funds were necessary. The Superior Court refused to issue the writ requested by the board of education. This Court affirmed. In effect the decision supported the contention of the commissioners that in the final analysis they had the right to determine what funds were necessary for the operation of the schools.

The Legislature was in session when Board of Education of Cherokee County v. Board of Commissioners, supra, was decided. To afford recognition of the responsibilities resting on each board and to avoid dominance by either board, the Legislature provided for a hearing by a disinterested fact finder. It enacted: "In the event of a disagreement between the county board of education and the board of county commissioners as to the rate of tax to be levied, the county board of education may bring an action in the nature of mandamus against the board of county commissioners to compel the levy of such special tax * * * and it shall be the duty of the judge hearing the same to find the facts as to the amount needed * * * which finding shall be conclusive * * *" Sec. 1, c. 508, P.L.1909.

This Act was challenged in Board of Education v. Board of Commissioners, 174 N.C. 469, 93 S.E. 1001. This Court held it valid.

When the Constitution was amended in 1919, lengthening the school term, similar legislation was enacted conforming to the constitutional amendment. Sec. 8, c. 102, P.L.1919, G.S. 5488. This Act was attacked as invalid for failure to provide for jury trial. The Act was held valid, Board of Education of Yadkin County v. Board of Commissioners, 182 N.C. 571, 109 S.E. 630. The next Legislature provided for trial by jury when the county commissioners so requested. Sec. 188, c. 136, P.L.1923; In re May Budget of Board of Education of Yadkin County, 187 N.C. 710, 122 S.E. 760.

The statutes to which we have referred constitute the framework for what now appears as G.S. §§ 115-87 and 88. Subsequent amendments merely relate to details.

The basic philosophy with respect to the operation of our school system remains. It is the duty of the board of education to evaluate their needs, apply to the board of county commissioners for funds to supply the needs, and when funds are appropriated, to spend the same within the designated classification, current expenses and capital outlay, as will best serve school needs. It is the duty of county commissioners to study the request for funds filed with them by the board of education and to provide by taxation such funds, and only such funds, as may be needed for economical administration of schools. G.S. § 115-80.

This Court has consistently recognized the obligations and duties resting on each board. Denny, J., said in Atkins v. McAden, supra [229 N.C. 752, 51 S.E.2d 487]: "The county board of education and the school commissioners or trustees of an administrative unit, are charged with the responsibility of building all new schoolhouses and repairing the old ones in their respective administrative units. However, the board of county commissioners is charged with the duty to determine what expenditures shall be made for the erection, repair and equipment of school buildings in the respective administrative units in the county."

Barnhill, J. (later C. J.), said: "The right of the Board of Commissioners to determine what expenditures shall be made arises when a proposal for the expenditure of funds for school facilities is made by the Board of Education. Having determined that question and having provided the funds it deems necessary, its jurisdiction ends and the authority to execute the plan of enlargement or improvement reverts to the Board of Education. It selects and purchases new sites, approves the plans for the erection of new buildings or the remodeling or enlarging of old buildings. It lets the contracts, supervises the construction, and expends the funds." Parker v. Anson County, supra [237 N.C. 78, 74 S.E.2d 344].

When disagreement arises, the county commissioners cannot be required to provide funds beyond their estimate of needs until the controversy has been resolved in the manner provided by statute. Rollins v. Rogers, 204 N.C. 308, 168 S.E. 206.

There has been no adjudication here which prohibits the school authorities from acquiring the site they desire. What has been determined is that it cannot be acquired with taxes levied on the people of Columbus County. Appellant may acquire it as a gift or with funds coming from sources other than taxes levied by the Commissioners of Columbus County. Edwards v. Board of Education, 235 N.C. 345, 70 S.E.2d 170.

G.S. § 115-125, relied upon by appellant, has no application to this case. It merely gives the school authorities the right to acquire school sites. It is predicated on the assumption that school authorities have the money to pay for the site. It does not touch the question of where these funds shall come from or the power of the school authorities to compel the levying of a tax.

The basic fact has been determined adversely to appellant. Our examination of the record and briefs shows

No error.

MOORE, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.