The split school bonds
I like county commissioners' Solomonic solution of dividing the school bonds into two packages: $45 million for Eastern Guilford and $412 million for everything else.
And, yes, I know Solomon didn't really cut the baby in half. He just threatened to as a way of determining which claimant showed a mother's true love.
But commissioners' action importantly recognizes the difference between Eastern and the other projects. Paying for a replacement high school is an absolute, promised obligation. Let's assume voters recognize that and will support the $45 million funding plan. If they don't, the county will have to come up with the money in some other way.
A sense of obligation for Eastern should not compel support for another $412 million, however. Linking them on one referendum item would be unfair to voters.
"Why didn't they just break them all down?" Superintendent Terry Grier asked critically.
I wouldn't do that. At the same time, giving voters more options would be a good idea. What if they want to provide some bond money for schools but not a whopping $457 million? What would be wrong with letting voters choose whether to authorize $200 million, $300 million or $400 million?
After all, when you look to buy a house, your choices aren't limited to a mansion or nothing.
Comments (4)
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I agree that this was the wisest solution. The Eastern Guilford situation is unique - they don't even have a school.
I think the vast majority of people would agree that these students deserve a replacement school, although I fear that the construction costs will be higher than necessary. That certainly has been the Guilford County Schools' track record in recent years. Just look at Northern Guilford for example compared to the new high schools over in Forsyth County.
Including Eastern Guilford in the bond was an underhanded, cynical move by the School Board in the first place. School board members hoped that sympathy for the plight at Eastern Guilford would spur voters to approve the entire bloated, pork-filled bond package. I'm glad the County Commissioners saw through this scheme and gave voters a real choice.
Posted on January 18, 2008 9:55 AM
Well said, Just Saying
You've got to take your pleasures where ye may. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have faith in county gvt.
Posted on January 18, 2008 11:07 AM
Duncan the master cant always have hs way. Maybe its time for him to go to San Diego too.
Posted on January 18, 2008 9:39 PM
What Grier has to say about it will no longer be important at 4:00 pm on Saturday.
The Commissioners recognized the folly of putting Eastern in with the other bonds. The Eastern bond has a fair chance of passage in May by itself. Voters are going to reject the remaining humongous bond. We have a federal government talking about a tax rebate to forestall an economic downturn, and a school district that wants approval of $600 M+ in bonds that would represent a big hike in property taxes. Bad timing. We probably need some more schools, but until this board and superintendent start building some public trust, they will never get approval. I'm afraid that they are just clueless.
Posted on January 19, 2008 1:29 PM