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Political Pandering, Favoritism and designing a ANOTHER CMS bond issue to fail  Back in 2005, the GOP went to the Democrats on the County Commission and School Board and offered to compromise with them to achieve a reasonable and fiscally workable bond package. The Democrats refused and insisted that the package approved by a dysfunctional and low rated school board should go to voters.
The GOP asked voters to vote 'No' and indicated that there was a 'better way' - to issue Certificates of Participation ('COPS') or non-voted debt. See link to GOP position paper on the 2005 bonds:
The Democrats, the Chamber and others fussed and fumed claiming that they would be like 'mythbusters' busting the GOP's 'myths'.
The GOP on the School Board and County Commission challenged that assertion with a 'Busting the Mythbusters' campaign. See this e-mail link:
The central quote from the GOP Caucus then was:
"....Rather, CMS and the Chamber simply told us one thing when they asked approval to spend the money; they now tell us another to hide that the money was spent foolishly.........Is it any wonder that there is a crisis of confidence in the stewardship of our tax dollars and public schools? It's time for a new direction. No more poorly prioritized, wasteful spending. Vote NO on the school bond issue, and the County Commission can begin focused funding of the real school construction priorities THIS FALL."
In order to force taxpayers to vote 'yes', the Democrats stated that they would NEVER issue COPS if the voters rejected the CMS bonds. They told the public to effectively 'take it or leave it' and figured that taxpayers would knuckle under and vote to approve.
Well, the voters had their say, the bonds were defeated and the GOP plan to put CMS on a short-leash with COPS bond money was approved in 2006.
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Evidently, NOTHING..
The Martin Committee (formally called the School Building Solutions Committee) was formed in 2006 after the bonds failed.
The Martin Committee recommended a November 2007 bond issue of 'up to $400 million'. They produced a list of specific school needs (about 80% growth).
The County Commission and School Board agreed with this limit and list. The Democrats insisted that the GOP support the 'up to $400 million' for a November 2007 ballot issue because they were taking heat for reversing their votes on COPS. Two Black Democrats refused to go along creating internal party disharmony.
Peter Gorman comes on board in the middle of 2006 and over the next 7 months revises the Martin Committee's $400 million bond package by tweaking it (the total stayed the same). His version was called 'option 1' but the list was still about 80% growth oriented.
From July 2006 through March of 2007 the bi-partisan consensus was a bond package of $400 million with specific schools focused on 'growth' (generally new construction).
Then the School Board started politicking
One of the Black representatives on the school board (Dunlap) didn't like the fact that approximately 80% of the new $400 million bond were to go for 'growth' (new schools).
This School Board member proposed 'adding 1,000 points' to a series of inner-city and 'inner-ring' schools to bump them up so that they leapfrogged over higher priority suburban projects. Race had become a factor in what schools were to be built, who made it on the list and when.
After some haggling and back room deals at CMS the bond package approved by the School Board skyrocketed to $620 million. $586 million for construction and $30 million for land.
Worse still for voters, CMS planned on trying to do all the projects in two years increasing the annual bond sale amount from roughly $150 million a year to close to $300 million (hint: the quicker you borrow, the faster taxes have to go up).
The GOP went back to the Democrats (as we did in 2005) sending two representatives to meet with them several times (along with Bob Morgan Chamber CEO, Peter Gorman CMS CEO, and Harry Jones the County CEO)
Our proposal was as follows:
1. $400 million ballot initiative that could be increased with documented support to $450 max 2. $150 million annual debt cap for CMS bond sales
3. Priorities set per Martin/option 1 as outlined in draft form below (no 'leapfrogging')
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Total |
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Dollars |
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HIGH SCHOOLS |
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New Matthew mint Hill Area High |
$46,000,000 |
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Vance High Addition (added due to growth # changes) |
$12,745,000 |
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New Bailey Road High |
$46,000,000 |
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South Mecklenburg High |
$675,000 |
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Independence High |
$9,665,943 |
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Olympic High Renovations (Roofing) |
$350,000 |
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East Meck High Auditorium Renovations |
$3,562,500 |
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Harding High Phase 1 |
$13,273,688 |
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New Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road High School planning |
$3,000,000 |
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MIDDLE SCHOOLS |
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New Ridge Road Middle School |
$30,000,000 |
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New Belmeade Road Middle |
$30,000,000 |
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Davidson IB Middle |
$5,147,000 |
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Ranson Middle |
$17,085,000 |
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Alexander Graham Middle |
$8,856,000 |
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New Gilead Road-Stumptown Road Area Middle School |
$2,000,000 |
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McClintock Middle School Renovations |
$16,025,690 |
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New Robinson Church Road Middle area Middle School |
$0 |
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS |
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Long Creek Elementary (replacement school for Growth) |
$15,360,000 |
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New Dixie River Road Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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Amay James Elementary |
$5,116,000 |
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New Davidson-Concord Road Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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New North Tryon Street-Pavilion Blvd Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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New Robinson Church Road Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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New Monroe Road-Sardis Road North Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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New Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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Pineville Elementary |
$10,988,446 |
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New York Road/Red Fez Road area Elementary |
$15,360,000 |
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New Youngblood Road/Steele Creek Elementary School |
$15,360,000 |
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New Ervin Cook Road/Oliver Hagler Road Elementary |
$14,360,000 |
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LAND |
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Land Acquisition for Future school locations (Growth) |
$30,000,000 |
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Other |
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ADA Compliance |
$3,000,000 |
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Fire Alarm Upgrades |
$1,627,458 |
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Surveillance Upgrades |
$1,191,280 |
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Electrical Work (West Charlotte High) |
$150,000 |
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IAQ/ Abestos Removal Phase 1 |
$4,700,000 |
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Instructional Tech |
$4,043,750 |
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Sound Field |
$1,125,000 |
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TOTAL |
$458,927,755 |
The above GOP proposal appears to have been rejected by the Democrat leadership of both boards at this time who have exhibited a 'take it or leave it' approach just like 2005. While it is disappointing, I believe that the voters would be wise to 'leave it' and vote 'NO' if the CMS proposal or something like it makes it onto the ballot.
Listen to Parks Helms (from the August 15, 2006 meeting):
"I think it is well to note *and we need to start tonight* reminding this community that this is only a prelude to a bond referendum where the public will have an opportunity to express their approval of the direction that the Board of Education is going, the direction we are going as a County. That referendum will be in the range of $400 million and will be on the ballot in November 2007" - Parks Helms
The Democrats are effectively rejecting a proposal that they themselves approved of less than a year ago in a bipartisan compromise.
Why you ask? Because of internal fighting within differing Democrat Party sub-groups.
GOP School Board member Ken Gjertsen said it most clearly:
"And let's be clear, by CMS staff's own admission, if they have to choose, they prefer to go to a bond referendum supported by the African-Americans on the BOE rather than one supported by the Republicans. - Ken Gjertsen, BOE member 4-22-2007
This desire to 'add 1,000 points' is being tacitly backed by the Chamber, Pete Gorman and as of this writing Harry Jones who are collectively more fearful of a 5-4 split Democrat vote on the School Board (where African-Amercians vote against the proposal) than they are with public rejection of the bonds at the ballot box (or a 5-4 Partisan split on the Commission).
My reasons for opposing the current proposal are simple and straight-forward. The list totaling approximately $620 million as approved by the CMS school board is not reflective of CMS own identified high priority needs but instead is a sop to the inside race-based politics that have ruined public education in Mecklenburg County. Pandering and Favoritism have no place in determining when or how schools should be funded. CMS has still not learned their lesson regarding this and the plan is simply unaffordable with no rational annual spending plan.
I believe that the Democrats and certain civic leaders know that the $620 million number is politically unpalatable and I expect that they will attempt to soften the number by trying to move land purchases out of the school bond package to make it appear smaller while threatening to cut high-priority suburban projects. This is why I included the list of specific schools and money allocated to them above. Voters should not be deceived by such tactics.
They will also likely threaten to not vote for COPS (the same promise they made in 2005 and abandoned in 2006).
Rest assured, if the bond issue fails this fall, I believe that COPS will be proposed by the GOP (me in particular) to fund the above items in the priority order based on demonstrated need. I are sure that regardless of their likely denials, most leading elected Democrats will vote for COPS in 2008 for high priority needs as outlined above because they really would have no choice.
Currently, there is $124 million in bond money available for sale for next year to build and renovate schools. Even if the bonds were to fail, there is no crisis because we have enough money to carry us through another 12 months and (as I said) we can sell COPS for any addional schools per the above list subject to the $150 million annual sales limit.
As of this writing, the County's independent 'Citzens Capital Budget Advisory Committee' (CCBAC) has recommended a plan that is close to the GOP proposal in most respects. |
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Sincerely,
Bill James
Billjames.org
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Photos and Cartoons
(Click to view)
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| Link to Mecklenburg County Government site
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Fl
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704-336-2472
Fax: 704-846-6538
Bill@billjames.org |
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