The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners held a joint meeting with members of the county’s State Legislative Delegation on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, to discuss key initiatives and funding priorities for the county. The meeting, which took place in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, highlighted several important areas of focus, including education, infrastructure, mental health, and public safety.

Delegation members in attendance included N.C. Senator Val Applewhite, and Representatives Diane Wheatley, Charles Smith, and Mike Colvin.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere began the meeting by expressing his appreciation to the delegation for their commitment to Cumberland County’s growth and success. "We are dedicated to working alongside our state partners to secure the resources our county needs," said deViere. "Our county is a Tier 1 community, and we are looking for a partnership to help address our long-term infrastructure needs. We want to continue working with our state partners to build a strong infrastructure that supports sustainable growth and ensures permanent, regulated, safe drinking water, modern schools, and robust public services.”

Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones echoed the importance of collaboration, emphasizing the need to invest in mental health services and other community priorities. "Together, we can enhance the lives of our citizens and ensure a safe and prosperous future for all our residents," Jones said.

The County’s 2025 State Legislative Agenda included local requests specific to Cumberland County and was divided into funding requests and policy objectives. Requests were centered around the Board’s seven Strategic Priority Areas of Fostering Economic Prosperity, Encouraging Quality, Smart Development, Ensuring a Safe Community, Enhancing Health & Wellness, Increasing Cultural & Recreational Opportunities, Championing Responsive, Transparent Government, and Supporting a High-Performing Education System.

Local funding requests included:

• $65 million for a new state-of-the-art school aligned with Cumberland County Schools’ comprehensive needs study and facility prioritization plan, which identified E.E. Smith High School as a critical infrastructure priority.
• $5 million for the water expansion project for the Gray’s Creek District and $50 million for county-wide public water and sewer infrastructure to help ensure sustainable access to safe and regulated water.
• $2 million for preconstruction needs related to a regional aquatic center.
• $2 million for a Mobile Incident Command Unit for Emergency Services and $500,000 for digital dispatch equipment to enhance emergency response across the county.
• $4 million to expand mental health and substance use treatment services for youth in the community and County schools.

Local policy objectives included:

• Supporting the Cumberland County Board of Education’s legislative agenda request to adjust the formula for supplemental state funds for teacher compensation.
• Expanding passenger rail activity to complete rail routes from Fayetteville to Raleigh and Fayetteville to Wilmington.
• Supporting and advocating for the future I-685 to pass through Cumberland County and Fayetteville.
• Addressing volunteer fire department services contracts related to annexation laws.
• Supporting legislation and funding related to gun violence prevention and awareness.
• Decreasing wait times for the N.C. Innovations Waiver Program, Medicaid Home and Community Based Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

The Board concluded the meeting by committing to continued collaboration and communication with the delegation to address the needs of Cumberland County and its residents.

"As Chairman, I’ve always emphasized the importance of partnerships — with our municipalities, the school board, and the state,” said Chairman Kirk deViere. “While there’s more to discuss, today we focused on the key priorities that matter most to our community. What we’ve shared are the issues that matter most to our residents. As the legislative session moves forward, we ask for open communication. We want to be your partner in moving our county forward."