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We Owe it to Our Current Students and Future Selves to Vote “Yes” on the GO Bonds this Fall

voteforredding
Sep 10
4 min read

As important as the senate, legislative, and county races are this fall, none will be as impactful to the immediate funding of our schools as the two GO bonds that are on the ballot. 


In case you are not aware, there are two separate bond referendum questions, totaling $400M:

  • One that is requesting $340M in school bonds for Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools. 

  • The other is requesting $60M for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. 



I have also found this page on the Cabarrus County Government website especially helpful: https://www.cabarruscounty.us/CabCo-Resources/General-Obligation-Bond-Referendum-FAQ. If you have questions like “what is a GO bond?” and “how will this impact my tax bill?”, then I highly recommend you click that link. 


But if you want to understand why this candidate for Cabarrus County Commissioner is fervently in support of both GO bonds, then keep reading here. 


Our county has never had the opportunity to prove how much we love our public schools than this fall. $400,000,000 is a lot of money. I am not denying that. And I understand the hesitancy for another tax increase, considering the property tax increase of a couple of years ago is still fresh on everyone’s minds. 


But here’s the thing (well, two things):

  • The county is mandated to build and maintain our public schools. Neither the federal nor the state governments are required to build or maintain public schools in North Carolina. That is up to the counties. Per G.S. 115C-408: “It is the policy of the State of North Carolina that the facilities requirements for a public education system will be met by county governments.” So…in other words…we don’t have a choice.

    • The county is also obligated to capital infrastructure development for our community college, per G.S. 115D-32. Hence, the separate bond measure for $60M.

  • The needs for maintenance and new builds are not going to magically go away if the bonds get voted down. Voting “no” does not change the fact that the maintenance and new builds have to get done. The needs are not going away.


So, if you chose to vote “no” b/c you are angry at another tax increase, or you wish the county would put a higher priority on a new school in your area versus what is immediately planned…that does not change the fact that the immediate needs are not going to go away and have to get funded somehow.


It’s also important to understand that going the route of a GO bond is almost certainly going to give our county the best deal. What do I mean by that? I mean that the interest rate we will get by doing a GO bond is almost guaranteed to be better than by going any other route. Our county has the highest possible credit rating with the 3 major ratings agencies, and because a GO bond has the “full faith and credit” of the voting public, the interest rate is very likely going to be lower. 


Our county government cannot say that for certain, because if the GO bond is approved, we would still have to present it to the Local Government Commission (LGC), and from there the interest rate would be determined. However, I feel confident in stating that approving the GO bonds this fall will save taxpayers money via:

  • Better interest rate

  • Cheaper building materials and labor costs 


It would be great if things started to get cheaper in the next 6-12 months! But does anyone reading this actually think that is going to happen? If I am proven wrong then I would happily eat my words, but voting “no” because you think we can get a better deal down the line is not the prudent route, in my opinion. 


I’ve also heard some chatter that is essentially “we need to just slow down. Take a breath and then see where things are in a couple of years.” Well, in addition to the reasons stated above, very few of the projects at the top of the list are related to new growth. 


The most expensive need is for a new Central Cabarrus High School. And I say “new” because that school is more than 50 years old, and if you don’t think we desperately need new facilities there, then I encourage you to drive by there. After a new CCHS, the needs list goes:

  • Deferred maintenance

  • Renovation for NCMS

  • Renovation of old RBMES

  • Deferred maintenance

  • WMES Replacement

  • Middle School Auditorium Additions

  • Deferred Maintenance


In my reading of this, even if we do not let in a single new family or student for the next handful of years, the work listed above still has to get done!


So, you can get angry about growth or traffic, but that does not negate that our schools are aging and they have to be maintained. 


One more thing: if you are angry that a school that you want in your area of the county is too far down the list, and therefore want to vote “no,” you should know that if this GO bond doesn’t pass, it doesn’t mean the project that you want will get moved to the top of the list. 


If anything, that will just delay by a year (if not more) for when construction starts on the school that you want built. 


There is no valid reason to vote “no” on the GO bonds. If you’re angry about another tax increase? Then vote yes, because this is the cheapest and most efficient way to fund these projects. 

Angry about growth and overcrowding? The funds from this GO bond will almost exclusively be funding a replacement high school and deferred maintenance. 

Angry that your pet project isn’t higher on the needs list? Vote yes, so that your project will move up the list more quickly. 


This county has long valued its public schools. Whether it’s creating Program Choice or funding one of the best Exceptional Children's Departments in the state, we’ve shown time and time again that we love our schools and want what is best for our students and teachers. It’s time we prove that once again, and vote “yes” on both GO bonds this fall.

 
 
 

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