Moore's school construction pitch

Richard Moore wants to buy land for schools before they're actually needed.

In a letter to county commissioners, the state treasurer proposed a new nonprofit corporation called the N.C. Future School Partnership to buy land and start permitting schools before they're needed. He said that would help lock in lower prices.

"Getting started on projects earlier and completing them faster will save counties and taxpayers millions of dollars that can be used to invest in other worthy projects or to hold down property taxes," Moore writes in the letter.

He estimated that the nonprofit would be able to save between five and 20 percent on each school, or up to $6 million on a $30 million high school. The state needs about $10 billion in new schools to meet demand over the next five years.

Moore is running for the Democratic nomination for governor.