VoteNoBonds.com

Just received my mailing from voteyesbonds! They helpfully included a map that shows no new schools built up in the most Northern part of the county. It looks like the work is mostly center city. There are no new schools planned in the most northern part of the county. There is a huge amount of growth in that area…Has anyone noticed the growth in the area?

Look for your well-financed, shiny, three color foldout in the mail. It is clear on the map. Or check out their well-financed by the construction companies web site. The link to the map is at the bottom of the page.

‘Naysayers’ needed to battle boondoggles

The Observer for years has called those who disagree with its position on spending or taxes “naysayers.” But more naysayers are needed to say no to giveaways of arenas to billionaire owners, to massive bond issues that plunge the county into more debt, to light rail boondoggles, to ill-conceived art programs, to mismanaged school spending, to feel-good programs that don’t produce results and to foolish business grants.

Elton Shoemaker
Charlotte

Newcomers have money we can make use of

If Charlotte-Mecklenburg leaders want rampant growth, then they should manage it. The only solution is charging these “equity rich” newcomers who purchase McMansions here.Stop letting special interests make critical decisions for this community, and listen to the taxpayer you always ask to bail you out.

Rick Marshall
Charlotte

Why impact fees over bonds? Simple! Bond payments are added to the property tax rolls and are regressive — they tax the poor, the unemployed, the sick and people living on Social Security.

People have to eat, but they don’t have to buy a new home.

Romaine Horn
Charlotte

A homeowner with $175,000 house will pay an extra $100/year. Wouldn’t it be nice if that amount of money would fix the schools? That seems cheap. That is just the tip of the iceberg though. Tax increases for Charlotte and Mecklenburg county must be included to that $100/year.

That combined with the fact that the favorites to win are incumbents in several districts make me think this is a referedum on the schools system. There is no real reform of this failing school system in sight. Without reform the tipping continues.

Tara Servatious’s archives are not available so I will use a source from Alabama. Article

Though the candidates for town board gave similar responses to most questions, voters were presented with a stark contrast between school board candidates Larry Gauvreau and Rhonda Lennon.

One of the main differences between the incumbent Gauvreau and challenger Lennon is their views on the $427 million CMS bond referendum.

Gauvreau told the audience the bond is “as misprioritized this time as it was in 2002.” He said the bond won’t relieve crowding in North Mecklenburg schools fast enough because it won’t ensure that enough schools are built in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions.

Lennon said she “reluctantly” supports the bond, although it is “an awful lot of money.” Lennon said she believes the bond will adequately support growth in North Mecklenburg and reduce dependability on mobile units.

Article

In response to “Bonds aim to put seats where they’d be filled” (Oct. 9):My reason for voting against the school bonds: the reluctance of county and city officials to require developers to pay for more of the costs of growth.

Progressive communities require impact fees, the dedication of land for parks or schools or a financial equivalent.

This will be my first no vote on a school bond issue. The message is for city and county officials: Move from the influence of real estate interests to the welfare of us all.

Russ Brown
Charlotte

Letters to Editor

The candidates also disagreed about the proposed, $427 million school bond. Gauvreau is squarely against it.

Lennon, who served on a citizen’s board that made recommendations about the bonds, said she doesn’t like all of it, but believes they’re a big improvement over the 2002 bonds and should be passed. “District 1 will be getting $1 out of every $3 that’s spent,” says Lennon. “That’s a pretty good deal.”

Replied Gauvreau, “One out of three is nowhere near enough. … They’re putting a chicken in every pot again and holding you (north Meck voters) hostage.”

“Well,” retorted Lennon,“at least this time is one chicken out of every three. We are moving in the right direction.”

Huntersville Herald Article

Greetings to All!

Can I have just about two minutes of your time in regards to a decision that WILL effect you as a Mecklenburg County resident?

From 1999-2004 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) student enrollment grew from 96,000 to 120,000 or an increase of a little more than 20%.

However, money spent on CMS students, gathered from all sources, has risen 60% in the same period (1999-2004), from $625 million to almost $1 billion. This includes money from the federal, state, and local government, and yes, including your property taxes.

So, in other words, the rate of spending has grown 3 times faster than the number of students has grown. But the Democratically controlled County Board and CMS say they need even more $$$ for education.

… Intrigued? Read on… Just one more minute…

In July of 2005, it was reported that less than half of CMS schools passed the No Child Left Behind testing standards. By comparison, 69% of Gaston and Lincoln county’s middle and elementary schools passed.
(http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/12175662.htm)

Of all 100 NC counties, NC had the highest spending per student, but middle of the road results. i.e. Where are your tax dollars going??

Your County Board, majority dominated by 6 Democrats insists, in part, that “its for education” to raise your property taxes nearly 11% in one year(2005), after a 2003 property reassessment that came just 5 years after a 1998 reassessment. The 1998 reassessment came two years earlier than the normal 7 year reassessment cycle.

Why? To increase your property tax values to gain more revenue. A double whammy - a reassessment and 11% one year spike in the county tax rate!

The Democrats don’t want to tell you the real truth for property tax increases: to pay for unneeded, if not wasteful services, cover mismanagement of resources, and to cover debt service because of waste and mismanagement.

And yet, in what the board claims is a tight budget year of 2005, they increased their own travel allowance almost 30% to do what with it? — Travel to Hawaii on your tax dollars (Democrat County Board Member Norm Mitchell) - Yes, that’s right!

Mr. Mitchell took the trip to a conference in Hawaii in the summer of 2005, that many local governments from many states such as Alabama and Georgia did not send representatives because they deemed it wasteful spending of public funds.

By the way, I thought traveling to an exotic place such as Hawaii is something we do on personal time and money, not on someone else’s dime?

Do you want to make a change?

Two things….

On Tuesday, November 8th…

VOTE NO for the School Bond Referendum…. A no vote demands smarter spending, which we have had little from Mecklenburg County officials. A “NO” vote stays off open season on taxpayers… Of course, most supporters of the bond, and probably the Charlotte Observer itself, will taint “NO” voters as anti-education, in reality the reverse will be true. Smarter spending will for one, keep our own local government accountable and fiscally healthier.

Ask yourself this question: Is a problem solved or improved, just by throwing dollar bills at it?? Money must be spent wisely.

Re-consider: Mecklenburg County has by far and away the highest spending per pupil in the state of all 100 counties in North Carolina, but only mediocre student performance. And now, Mecklenburg County wants even more money.

The next election for county board: vote conservative, vote for fiscal responsibility, vote for education - a priority that will be placed truly first, not behind a wall of mismanagement and waste.

Let us all join together to hold our politicians accountable for FIRST, spending money wisely, before we give them MORE money.

For more information on a better plan with lower cost alternatives than the bond, click http://www.johnlocke.org/ , “Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Costly Bonds.” The John Locke Foundation is North Carolina’s leading think-tank.

former Charlotte Hornet
NC State Class of ‘96
Charlotte native

P.S. Forward this to all of your friends who live in Mecklenburg County!

On Nov. 8, the voters of Mecklenburg County will be casting their votes for not only Mayor, City Council and School Board but also for one of the largest bond packages in our County’s history. The League of Women Voters will be sponsoring a debate on this bond package on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Government Center. The panelists will include representatives from the Citizens for Effective Government, The Vote Yes Committee, and the John Locke Foundation. There will be a moderated question and answer session followed by questions from the audience. If you have any questions, feel
free to contact Gray Newman with the League of Women Voters at 704-609-3160.”