A unanimous three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals has affirmed a May 2012 trial court ruling favoring the Richmond County Board of Education in its fight with state officials over a funding source. The school system is challenging a 2011 law that creates a new $50 fee connected with “a conviction of an improper equipment offense” and sends that money to the state, rather than the local schools. The Richmond County school board contends the new fee is a penalty that is required by the state constitution to head to the school system.