Republican County Commission Caucus Press Release 

Re:       CMS Bonds

Dear Jennifer:

On behalf of the Republican Board minority, I write to propose a further compromise of our respective positions on the maximum size and project list for this fall’s CMS Bond Referendum. 

This proposal is in response to your recent suggestion of a $531 million amount roughly conforming to CMS’s “Option 2” project list.  We understand that the rationale behind that list is adding back projects from the defeated 2005 bond referendum to a $400 million list that otherwise follows CMS staff priorities.  While we welcome this first move toward a compromise, we believe that tying the new bond proposal to the defeated one in this fashion is a mistaken approach and one that may unnecessarily draw opposition.  We have, therefore, worked to identify another compromise approach to reconcile our respective positions.

The four Republican Board members will support a referendum proposal in the maximum amount of $485 million for construction plus $30 million for site acquisitions that conforms to the list criteria on the following page.  We begin with the CCBAC list, and include these modifications:

·         You may choose either to eliminate the CCBAC’s 60%-replacement value cap on renovation projects (a cost of $21.1 million) or proceeding with the standalone Pre-K Centers (a cost of $25.8 million); and

·         You may choose either to proceed with the High School PE space additions ($12.8 million) or the Stadium/Auditorium/Track and Field replacements/renovations ($17.8 million); and

·         In exchange, we ask for the return to the list of the highest priority new elementary school eliminated by CCBAC, Mt. Island Promenade ($13.4); and

·         We would agree to an annual bond debt issuance cap of $150 million.

We hope you agree that this is a workable solution to achieve a strong consensus in favor of a bond referendum for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Very truly yours,

Dan Ramirez,
County Commissioner

cc:  Board of County Commissioners
Harry Jones
Dr. Peter Gorman
Chairman Joe White
Media

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