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As posted on the message board on the Hendersonville
Times-News in reference to
this story:
April 20, 2008:
For the record, I may be the only Board of Education
candidate who dares to oppose the sales tax referendum, and certainly the
most outspoken. Same with the 1997 bond referendum and the 2007 land
transfer tax referendum.
I called out the other seven candidates to state their position, and
besides the incumbents, I have heard nothing so far. Shannon Baldwin's
website, for example, states no position at all on this issue. It makes me
wonder if he conveniently wants this issue to disappear without any verbal
commitment, while giving us rhetoric about how he's going to bring our
schools to the 21st Century.
So I commend the incumbents for at least their openness, even if I
disagree with them.
The way that we have addressed school construction has divided parents and
the rest of the taxpayers. As Fielding Lucas said in 1997, had we had a
bond for all the kids, and not just the kids in five schools, it would
have easily passed.
In my humble opinion, we need a plan that addresses the student population
plans for the next 10 years, the renovation needs of the schools (as best
we can) for the next 20 years, and include the other needs and desires of
this County. Don't tell me it can't be designed: We already have census
figures and a 10-year facility plan.
It should then be set up as a bond we can pay off in 10 years and be voted
by the taxpayers. Then and only then should we talk about alternate forms
of funding, whether it be the land transfer tax, the sales tax, selling
assets like Pardee Hospital or other assets, etc. Such a bond could also
include municipal projects, to maximize value and to coordinate needs.
This is how bonds get passed.
Unlike the current County Commission Chairman (who referred to "tooth
fairy" projections of the John Locke Foundation (www.johnlocke.org)
last fall over the land transfer tax, nice way to rally the base there), I
concur with the JLF's assertion that growth indeed will pay for itself
mostly with proper planning and real accountability. What that means is if
we plan right, and manage it right, there shouldn't be much tax increase,
if any.
Some of the John Locke Foundation's suggestions are really creative,
however, we can improve even on them. I have already suggested others that
will minimize our burden while addressing this issue. I was promoting
common design schools (already on file with the State) for years, even
visiting such a school in Johnston County in 1988 and forwarding the video
to the BOE, to no avail. I have also suggested concrete dome designs,
which are far more "green" than the current "green" schools, far easier to
maintain, and is a desirable disaster shelter if there's an emergency.
As to the County's claims it will help recreation, you can't make that
claim without a precise PLAN as to what to do with the money. "Trust us
with money" is not a plan.
Which goes back to having a bond referendum with a tangible plan the
voters can accept or reject. While soccer moms and dads may not like the
idea of this, the best way to address the poor fields, in my opinion, is
artificial turf at the high schools. There are seven locations you could
put in fields of various sizes. It would help the schools and recreation,
IF Parks and Recreation were given real access on the weekends for
programming.
The schools are not owned by the Board of Education. They are owned by
TAXPAYERS.
I have a background in recreation, I'm telling you the County's suggestion
that it would take $6-11 million for a soccer complex is absurd. Blackbaud
Stadium in Charleston seats 5,000, and cost $5 million to build. Their
figure is more likely to scare away any thought of doing anything for
soccer (or other outdoor sports like lacrosse, field hockey, rugby) in the
near future.
I'm going to assert this again: Within ten years, you're getting
artificial turf at the high schools anyway, especially if we build a fifth
high school. It will happen. So why not PLAN for it and kill two birds
with one stone? I will point out that Haywood County, not nearly as
wealthy as Henderson County, is using lottery money for artificial turf at
Tuscola and Pisgah for that very reason.
Such planning is needed in regards to a potential fifth high school, on
whether we keep flex quarter and expand it to a middle school and high
school (and 1 or 2 elementary schools), bussing, etc.
I am highly disappointed the County Commission ignored my e-mails and
public comment in 2007, asking them to pull the land transfer tax vote
like Polk County did to save face, and my e-mails asking them to stop any
talk of putting on a sales tax vote. We should have taken a deep breath,
and starting planning for a much more comprehensive bond.
This is what Durham County did, and they won around 75% of the vote when
all these tax referendums went down in flames.
The very idea that our time, and OUR money, is wasted on these votes
(while schools are in disrepair) is highly insulting.
People will support a plan, when they actually see one that addresses ALL
of schools at once (unlike 1997), and treats other county needs, like
recreation, with the same amount of respect.
It is obvious they know this vote will not pass. It is obvious they are
eventually going to be forced to talk about a bond referendum. Perhaps
they are so secure in the election process that they didn't feel a need to
do it the correct way until they are forced to?
I question why they couldn't have started planning a comprehensive bond
last year when they had the chance. This approach only delays addressing
our schools, parks, and every REAL need, and I find their strategy and
attitude unacceptable.
As surely as there is a God in Heaven, I would not have run for Board
of Education this year if they had listened to those of us with these
suggestions.
I hope voters remember this. While the deck is stacked against any
challenger in the primary for County Commission, at least a message can be
sent that we are not going to be slighted like this anymore.
I already voted early against the sales tax referendum, and I am urging
everyone to make sure they do the same.
Right now, I've heard more ideas from the taxpayers than candidates on
this. So I challenge other candidates for Board of Education to offer
other ideas, not just empty rhetoric about uniting Henderson County or
preparing our schools for the 21st Century.
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