It was just about a month ago that county voters approved a $300 million school bond referendum for the repair and construction of Guilford County schools.
However, if some Democratic county commissioners have their way, it may not be long before the voters are asked to approve another school bond – this time a whopping $1.6 billion bond that Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston said he wants to see on the ballot in 2022.
In addition, he said this week that the school bond should go on the ballot in the primary that year – rather than during the November General Election.
Alston, who’s expected to be named the new chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners next week – and who will be in control of a new Democratic-majority board – said this week that the schools need much more money than the Republican-led Board of Commissioners allowed on the ballot this year, and he wants to right that wrong as soon as possible.
According to Alston, it’s crystal clear that the schools need much more work than could be done with $300 million. He said putting the school bond on the primary ballot would get the money where it’s needed faster – should voters approve this referendum like they did the last one.
“It’s only 15 months away,” Alston said of the primary.
He also said he’s sure the new board will support the move. Several Democratic commissioners gave the Republican commissioners a severe tongue lashing earlier this year when they approved a bond referendum amount of $300 million. Also, new board members are school advocates, including Mary Beth Murphy – a teacher in Guilford County Schools who said she ran for office largely because she felt that the county commissioners weren’t adequately funding the schools.
First thing Alston, et al, focus on is imposing C19 fines, next is ANOTHER school bond that makes the latest look like chump change–see the pattern? Tax and spend. Just be sure to spend the OTHER guys’ $$$. Democrats–terminally incapable of any policy that doesn’t involve ye olde democrat rule: ‘From those who work and earn to those who don’t’.
Money does not enrich education. It is dumb kids and dumb parents that prevent it. Not to mention the Socialist agenda.
Grab a hold of your wallet! Of course if you don’t pay much tax, or you benefit from the construction, then you will vote for it.
Interesting take. Curious what you think does enrich education that also supports your theory that the kids and parents are just dumb. Sounds pretty hopeless to me. Maybe we should focus on our tobacco farming, textiles and cotton picking, and furniture building and just abandon the 21st (and 20th) century altogether.
Just paraphasing Andy Rooney. Get the politics out of education. Teach children how to think, not what to think. Teach the truth, without editorial opinion.
I would make an analogy in that when I visited the Vet, they asked my how I liked the new building and reception area. I replied that I’m sure my dog loved it.
HaHaHaHa, it’s just money.
Rod Serling couldn’t write this story line. They have no clue how they’re going to pay for the first $300 million so, what the heck, let’s just add $1.6 billion to that and it will all work itself out. Citizens wake up, the Kool-aid has to be tainted. Jim Jones wasn’t half as looney as these libs.
I suggested a while back that if the Skip show starts ,there will be more and more and more,of this to come taxes,Taxes.and more Taxes.The Dems really love to spend Hard Working people’s money.Over the next year the Dems will add taxes next year and the next. The only way to stop that show is vote out those wicked Dems and maintain Republicans.We have seen over the last 8 years that the Republicans did not raise taxes. Lets vote out these Dems!!!!!!
Why?
Here’s a few reasons:
1. Ask for what you need, republicans might give you half, so why not ask for more? Now that Dems have additional control, they have the ability to actually ask for what they believe the school system needs. Moreover, as you might recall, there have been many hesitations at the federal level to provide support related to COVID-19 deficits, and I’m guessing this might be padded to compensate for that.
2. Years of neglect means there is actually a lot of work that needs to be done to fix education. That includes physical repairs and additions (more schools, renovations, updates, etc.), more support of instructors, new programming that supports the diverse needs of our communities, technology and other supports for our most needy students.
3. An economic philosophy of constant growth means that contractors and other people that are writing the bills can charge 100% more than they did 10 years ago (that number is estimated based on limited research into construction inflation).
4. $1.6 billion is just a shade above the $1.5 billion estimated cost of the Joint Facilities Study by MGT and that was completed nearly 2 years ago.
*Please note, I have not taken any stance on this, just answered your question. Will I vote for this (as it is described in this article), almost definitely not.
The schools spend wastefully they give astronomical bonuses for the top of the totem poles instead of investing in the schools. All they do is patch patch patch. Patching doesn’t fix the problems. They need better management of the money period
This all seems fishy to me….wanting this much more money for our schools. If for any reason this was to be passed and approved they better account for every penny spent and make sure all is used to improve the schools. I would really hate to see our Commissioners driving new cars, have additions to their homes, swimming pools built in their yards, etc. As a tax payer I want to know where ALL that money goes. They should be required to publish monthly report to the public for all expenses.
You know it isn’t illegal to buy a new car or make home improvements if you are an elected official, right?
I haven’t seen your comments on consistently using your own properties and businesses to host delegations and official government business or $200+ millionaire business owners cashing into PPP programs.
I’m guessing the fish smell is your partners privates. I suggest soap.
You must know a lot about money laundering since you are an expert on soap.
Grab your wallet! Get outta Dodge!