The Richmond County Board of Education is seeking help from North Carolina’s courts in securing a 10-year-old judgment of $272,300 against the state government. The case originated in 2012 when the school board sued state officials over a $50 improper equipment fee that was diverted from the Richmond County School Fund. Despite winning the initial lawsuit and subsequent appeals, state officials have not paid the judgment.
The current lawsuit, filed in 2024, names the current state treasurer, controller, budget director, public safety secretary, and attorney general as defendants. The legal battle over the unconstitutional fee has been ongoing for years, with courts ruling in favor of the school board but state officials failing to comply with payment orders.
The latest ruling by Superior Court Judge James Ammons rejected the state officials’ motion to dismiss the case. State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Controller Nels Roseland are now appealing this decision. The Richmond County Board of Education is seeking to recover the full amount owed, as well as the costs of the legal action.
The case is set to be heard by the state Court of Appeals, continuing a legal battle that has spanned over a decade. Despite the challenges and delays, the school board remains determined to secure the funds owed to support the Richmond County School Fund.
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