Durham, NC – On February 7, 2018, Durham County Commissioners Brenda Howerton and Ellen Reckhow attended the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ Board of the Directors meeting in Wake County. NCACC Board meetings are held several times throughout the year to provide an opportunity for the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee to discuss policy decisions and how best to direct the work of the Association and its staff.
The meeting, which was held at the North Carolina Museum of Art, convened with a warm welcome from Art Director, Larry Wheeler. Board members received updates on NCACC President and Durham County Commissioner Brenda Howerton’s recent Congressional meetings in Washington, D.C. and progress on her presidential initiative, “100 Counties: Helping Our Children Thrive,” which focuses on identifying ways for county government to make a positive impact in children’s lives.
Board members approved legislative goals for the short session, reaffirming the Association’s number one legislative priority to expand state funding for public school construction. They also discussed the impact of class size reductions mandated by the legislature for grades K-3 in public schools throughout the state. NCACC staff provided a briefing on developments regarding potential lawsuits by counties against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
In addition, the Board heard from Dave Richard, Deputy Secretary for Medical Assistance of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, regarding North Carolina’s Medicaid Transformation. The state is currently in the process of modifying its program design for Medicaid and NC Health Choice by transitioning from fee-for-service to managed care. The goal of Medicaid Transformation is to improve health outcomes for beneficiaries through sustainable and integrated care.
Finally, the Board discussed the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference and the candidacy of NCACC Past President and Person County Commissioner Ray Jeffers to become the Second Vice President of NACo. NACo is a national advocacy and leadership organization representing the common interests of 3,069 county governments throughout the country.
Editors: Print quality photos may be downloaded for use at: https://ncacc.smugmug.com/NCACC-Board-of-Directors-M-Febru] Photos should be credited as follows: Photo courtesy Chris Baucom/NCACC.
The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management and education and leadership training.
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