Charlotte, NC (June 18, 2007) - Three weeks ago, Republican County Commissioners reached-out quietly to forge consensus on a school bond referendum for this fall. On our behalf, Commissioners Dan Ramirez (At-Large) and Karen Bentley (District 1) opened discussions with Democrat Commissioner Jennifer Roberts, Superintendent Peter Gorman, County Manager Harry Jones and Chamber of Commerce President Robert Morgan aimed at unifying the Board of County Commissioners, the CMS Board and the business community in support of a balanced and reasonable bond proposal likely to draw voter support in November. Others have been involved at points. To promote compromise, we conducted these talks in private and avoided publicity.
Regrettably, our efforts appear now to have failed. Repeating unfortunate history; the majority of Democrat Commissioners decline to compromise. They are poised to approve on Tuesday—by a bare and partisan 5-4 vote—a $620 million package suggested by the Board of Education. The undersigned Republican County Commissioners, School Board Members and City Councilmen respectfully submit that this course of action, would be a serious mistake that undermines the will of the citizens and the message that the people of this County sent us in 2005.
The $620 million package now proposed is far in excess of not only last summer’s mutual commitment to $400 million, but also the $427 million measure voters rejected in 2005. The Chamber’s reported polling data indicates that public support is very marginal for the larger sum, even among registered voters (i.e., not screened for likely voters). We should not risk another voter rejection by overstuffing the referendum, particularly when a smaller amount could attract unanimous Board support and wide public acceptance. The community needs a win.
We have not insisted on strict observance of the previously agreed $400 million limit.
We have offered to support $56 million more for construction cost escalation. This week, the County’s Citizens Capital Budget Advisory Committee (CCBAC) proposed $486 million. It is more than we originally suggested but it does have a sound principal of equity and fiscal responsibility, we have offered to support that. But the Democrats won’t budge. Children in overcrowded and dilapidated public schools need new schools and renovations. We can continue to meet the most urgent needs through Certificates of Participation (COP)s financing if we must, but the Board of County Commissioners should send to voters a consensus bond referendum that will enjoy broad voter support. Let’s not have another showdown. We urge the adoption of the CCBAC recommendation on a unanimous vote of the County Commission.
We’ll keep working toward this goal through the meeting Tuesday night, and we ask for the community’s help.
Karen Bentley (Dist 1) BOCC Dan Bishop (Dist 5) BOCC
Bill James (Dist 6) BOCC Dan Ramirez (At-Large) BOCC
Kaye McGarry (At-Large) BOE Larry Gauvreau (Dist 1) BOE
Ken Gjertsen (Dist 6) BOE
Andy Dulin (Dist 5) City Council
Don Lochman (Dist 7) City Council
For more information, contact Dan Ramirez at 704-277-1633 or 704-551-1055 or Dan
Bishop at 704-716-1202 or 704-618-7580
The ramification of this issue is long reaching, perhaps it is time to alleviate some of the pressure by allowing Charter Schools to take on some of the over crowding, instead of capping them. It is time to start thinking outside of the box, instead of boxing.
From the Observer:
County Manager Harry Jones proposed, nearly $617 million in school bonds, about $4 million short of the amount recommended by the school board.
With the board's four Republicans standing behind a $486 million proposal, Democratic commissioner Valerie Woodard -- a potential swing vote on the nine-member board -- pitched her own figure of $540 million.
Commissioners are expected to vote on a bond package July 10.
CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman reminded commissioners that they are faced with exploding growth, the system's building needs total $2.5 billion over 10 years -- $3.7 billion with inflation. On Tuesday, no one disputed the need.
Instead, commissioners asked: How much is enough for now? And how much would voters approve?
They're all aware that voters rejected $427 million in school bonds in 2005. Republican Dan Ramirez warned that a large bond proposal this year would also fail. More than $600 million, he said, "is an amount the community is not going to buy, and we're going to be further behind."
Democrat Norman Mitchell disagreed, saying Republican opposition helped kill the 2005 school bond proposal.
"I would dare them to do that again," he said. "This community will not vote against their best interests twice."
The debate grew testy. Republican Bill James called the manager's proposal "a little on the sneaky side" for granting virtually the entire school request while delaying other construction projects. He bristled when commissioners Chairman Jennifer Roberts asked him to get to the point.
"That's the type of attitude that's going to (tick) people off," James shot back.
Jones' $617 million proposal would pay for 54 projects, including 748 classrooms. More than half the money would go for 16 new schools and just over a quarter for renovations.
Michael Murdock, chairman of a citizens advisory committee, outlined its recommendation for a $486 million bond issue, suggesting the county could ask for more in two years. That's the proposal the county body's four Republicans support.
"You can only spend `X' amount of dollars over the next two years," Murdock told commissioners.
Gorman said even if voters approve $486 million every two years for the next decade, CMS would still be $1 billion short of what it needs.
"At some point," he told commissioners, "I think we have to stand up and say we're never going to address the schools' needs."
Democrat Dumont Clarke said the smaller, $486 million figure would make "just a small dent in the total need."
But Republican Dan Bishop said the system would be worse off if another bond referendum failed.
Asked later about the prospect of passing a larger bond issue, Gorman said, "I know the need sells itself, and we've got a huge need."
Jones' school proposal was part of $677 million in bonds he would put before voters this fall. That includes $25 million for Central Piedmont Community College and $34 million for parks.
Reported by Jim Morrill
Regrettably, our efforts appear now to have failed. Repeating unfortunate history; the majority of Democrat Commissioners decline to compromise. They are poised to approve on Tuesday—by a bare and partisan 5-4 vote—a $620 million package suggested by the Board of Education. The undersigned Republican County Commissioners, School Board Members and City Councilmen respectfully submit that this course of action, would be a serious mistake that undermines the will of the citizens and the message that the people of this County sent us in 2005.
The $620 million package now proposed is far in excess of not only last summer’s mutual commitment to $400 million, but also the $427 million measure voters rejected in 2005. The Chamber’s reported polling data indicates that public support is very marginal for the larger sum, even among registered voters (i.e., not screened for likely voters). We should not risk another voter rejection by overstuffing the referendum, particularly when a smaller amount could attract unanimous Board support and wide public acceptance. The community needs a win.
We have not insisted on strict observance of the previously agreed $400 million limit.
We have offered to support $56 million more for construction cost escalation. This week, the County’s Citizens Capital Budget Advisory Committee (CCBAC) proposed $486 million. It is more than we originally suggested but it does have a sound principal of equity and fiscal responsibility, we have offered to support that. But the Democrats won’t budge. Children in overcrowded and dilapidated public schools need new schools and renovations. We can continue to meet the most urgent needs through Certificates of Participation (COP)s financing if we must, but the Board of County Commissioners should send to voters a consensus bond referendum that will enjoy broad voter support. Let’s not have another showdown. We urge the adoption of the CCBAC recommendation on a unanimous vote of the County Commission.
We’ll keep working toward this goal through the meeting Tuesday night, and we ask for the community’s help.
Karen Bentley (Dist 1) BOCC Dan Bishop (Dist 5) BOCC
Bill James (Dist 6) BOCC Dan Ramirez (At-Large) BOCC
Kaye McGarry (At-Large) BOE Larry Gauvreau (Dist 1) BOE
Ken Gjertsen (Dist 6) BOE
Andy Dulin (Dist 5) City Council
Don Lochman (Dist 7) City Council
For more information, contact Dan Ramirez at 704-277-1633 or 704-551-1055 or Dan
Bishop at 704-716-1202 or 704-618-7580
The ramification of this issue is long reaching, perhaps it is time to alleviate some of the pressure by allowing Charter Schools to take on some of the over crowding, instead of capping them. It is time to start thinking outside of the box, instead of boxing.
From the Observer:
County Manager Harry Jones proposed, nearly $617 million in school bonds, about $4 million short of the amount recommended by the school board.
With the board's four Republicans standing behind a $486 million proposal, Democratic commissioner Valerie Woodard -- a potential swing vote on the nine-member board -- pitched her own figure of $540 million.
Commissioners are expected to vote on a bond package July 10.
CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman reminded commissioners that they are faced with exploding growth, the system's building needs total $2.5 billion over 10 years -- $3.7 billion with inflation. On Tuesday, no one disputed the need.
Instead, commissioners asked: How much is enough for now? And how much would voters approve?
They're all aware that voters rejected $427 million in school bonds in 2005. Republican Dan Ramirez warned that a large bond proposal this year would also fail. More than $600 million, he said, "is an amount the community is not going to buy, and we're going to be further behind."
Democrat Norman Mitchell disagreed, saying Republican opposition helped kill the 2005 school bond proposal.
"I would dare them to do that again," he said. "This community will not vote against their best interests twice."
The debate grew testy. Republican Bill James called the manager's proposal "a little on the sneaky side" for granting virtually the entire school request while delaying other construction projects. He bristled when commissioners Chairman Jennifer Roberts asked him to get to the point.
"That's the type of attitude that's going to (tick) people off," James shot back.
Jones' $617 million proposal would pay for 54 projects, including 748 classrooms. More than half the money would go for 16 new schools and just over a quarter for renovations.
Michael Murdock, chairman of a citizens advisory committee, outlined its recommendation for a $486 million bond issue, suggesting the county could ask for more in two years. That's the proposal the county body's four Republicans support.
"You can only spend `X' amount of dollars over the next two years," Murdock told commissioners.
Gorman said even if voters approve $486 million every two years for the next decade, CMS would still be $1 billion short of what it needs.
"At some point," he told commissioners, "I think we have to stand up and say we're never going to address the schools' needs."
Democrat Dumont Clarke said the smaller, $486 million figure would make "just a small dent in the total need."
But Republican Dan Bishop said the system would be worse off if another bond referendum failed.
Asked later about the prospect of passing a larger bond issue, Gorman said, "I know the need sells itself, and we've got a huge need."
Jones' school proposal was part of $677 million in bonds he would put before voters this fall. That includes $25 million for Central Piedmont Community College and $34 million for parks.
Reported by Jim Morrill
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