Daily News

When bonds fail

Monday, October 30th, 2006

By Chris Fitzsimon

The struggle of Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools since the defeat of last year’s bond referendum deserves a long look in Wake Former Gov. Jim Martin has seen what happens when schools can’t use the most economical financing for new construction. He has fresh experience as leader of a damage-control committee tapped by Charlotte and Mecklenburg County after voters defeated a $427 million bond issue for schools last November.

What Martin shared with one group of Wake residents last week needs to be heard from Apex to Wake Forest and all points in between. As Wake voters consider a $970 million school bond issue on Nov. 7, Martin’s advice is this: Beware of handicapping this community by refusing it the schools it needs.

"You get more overcrowding, more year-round schools, more unhappiness about growth and more dissatisfaction with the school system," the Lake Norman Republican said. The way Martin tells it, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg experience strongly argues for a yes vote on Wake’s bonds. (more…)

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