Despite the fact that several city councilmembers didn’t understand exactly what they were doing, the proposed $135 million in bonds were authorized to go to referendum.
At the Tuesday, Aug. 31 City Council virtual meeting, the total bond package and each individual bond was authorized by 8-0 votes after the required public hearings where nobody spoke.
The bond public hearings had originally been on the agenda for the Aug. 17 meeting and were continued to the Aug. 31 meeting because the advertising requirements set by state law had not been met. Because this was a virtual meeting anyone who wanted to speak had to sign up by Monday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. and no one did.
Councilmember Justin Outling spoke during the roll call vote on the total bond package. Discussion is supposed to take place before the vote, but on this City Council it is not unusual for a councilmember to speak about the topic when they are called on to vote.
Outling made his usual speech about bonds simply being a way for the city to borrow money like an individual using a credit card or taking out a mortgage and that there should be a defined need for the money being borrowed.
He noted that the city had only spent about half of the 2016 bond money, bonds that he fully supported. He added that since the bond process started, the city learned it would be receiving close to $60 million in American Rescue Plan money plus an additional $10 million for the Coliseum.
Outling said, “The bonds will result in a tax increase that all community residents will have to bear.”
Despite his statements questioning the need for the bonds, Outling voted for the $135 million bond package and for the individual bonds.
Councilmember Sharon Hightower during the public hearings asked about the vote, “Is this to have a public hearing?”
Hightower added, “Let me be very clear, I really only support two bonds – housing and parks and recreation.” However, Hightower voted for all the bonds.
Councilmember Tammi Thurm was also confused about exactly what the City Council was voting to approve. She said, “It’s not too late for use to do something less than this amount for these bonds.”
She added, “But we are at a calendar point in time where we have to say that this is the maximum that we will consider.”
Assistant City Manager Larry Davis corrected that misunderstanding explaining that the City Council was setting the dollar amount for the bonds and any change up or down would start the process over. He said, “Movements after tonight up or down would reset the bond calendar.”
The date for the bond referendum has not been set but Mayor Nancy Vaughan said it would either be held at the March 8 City Council primary or at the City Council general election, which will be either in April or May.
The bonds that will go on that ballot are $30 million in housing bonds, $70 million in parks and recreation bonds, $14 million in firefighting facility bonds, $6 million in law enforcement bonds and $15 million in transportation bonds.
One more City Council vote is needed to place the bonds on the ballot.
Who’s on first ?
As The Rhino has reported, our City council members are so thick that they literally don’t know what they’re doing.
The citizens have the final say.Maybe it’s time to wean the children by voting no.
Why don’t they just pee in buckets and take turns slinging it on taxpayers? It would be less painful.
Our mayor and city council are unresponsive to the public. I’ve written Nancy Vaughn, Justin Outling, and an “at large” member (I don’t recall which one) and none could be bothered to respond to my concerns. I’ve also recently written to my county commissioner (Carly Cooke) and an “at-large” commissioner (Kay Cashion) about the mask mandate. It’s been almost a week and no reply from either. These people think they’re too important to be bothered by us little people. It’s disgusting.
As Pelosi said about obama care we have to pass it to find out what’s in it what a bucket of horse crap, please please please anyone who can vote please do this bunch of liberal morons have to go and stay gone
Exactly who is going to pay for all your progressive programs & constant spending increases when John Q is bankrupt? Don’t worry, I’ll wait… The folks feeding off the government teat will vote for this mess, then don’t pay a dime to fund it, the burden is left on Ol’ John Q who is about tapped out.
Well, we know the priorities of this council are NOT on infrastructure such as road repairs, water/sewer improvements, etc. Here is their list and notice what is at the top, then the bottom:
1 – 70 million in parks and recreation bonds (you must be kidding me?????)
2 – 30 million in housing bonds (more public housing??)
3 – 15 million in transportation bonds (the bus system??)
4 – 14 million in firefighting facility bonds (new stations)
5 – 6 million in law enforcement bonds
Yes. . . . with all the violence in Greensboro these days, and the failure of this council to take action to empower the police with more officers and take-home cars, this is what you get. The nanny state at the local level where they want to spend “MILLIONS” on recreation and parks and zilch on law enforcement.
After reading this column AND the very well-put ‘Comments’, I have formally submitted my request to be considered for the filling of the Vacant At-Large Seat on the Greensboro City Council. I am concerned with the apparent lack of seriousness and knowledge expressed by some members of the Council. They should be aware of the impacts on taxpayers when amounts in the ‘hundreds of millions’ of dollars are being proposed (?) or ‘spoken for”. Above all, they must understand what is being brought to them for consideration – it’s called research (or homework!)
In answer to another ‘commenter’. I am a heterosexual, married, white, woman, and an actual resident in the area being left by the resignation of Michelle Kennedy. If successful, I promise everyone that I’ll act for all citizens who want to see government working FOR them and for the community in which they live.
Good job – and good luck!