NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — There’s been disagreement among New Hanover County Commissioners this week as they address the future of a violence intervention task force known as Port City United.
At the board’s budget work session on Thursday, commissioners debated whether to extend funding for the program.
The program is currently funded by the American Rescue Plan, but that funding is set to dry up by the end of this year.
Commissioners Dane Scalise and LeAnn Pierce are against providing additional funding, stating that the money should be redirected to the school district. The district is facing substantial job cuts and a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall.
“So, I’m essentially advocating that we pull back on almost everything that PCU currently stands to be funded through and by, and relocate it to the schools,” Scalise said.
Commissioners Jonathan Barfield and Rob Zapple pushed back, noting that the violence prevention program is beneficial to the communities it is designed to serve.
“The oath that I took says I represent all the people that live in this county,” Barfield said. “Not Republicans, not Democrats, not black, not white, not rich or poor. But my job is to represent everybody. Not just one constituency, my constituents are the citizens of this county.”
Commissioner Barfield added that to step back from the program now would abandon the board’s commitment to address violence, while Commissioner Scalise said the program is taking up funding that could go to more essential items on the budget.