Comments on: School Chairman: Decatur Commissioners “Not on Board”, “On the Fence” Regarding School Bond Referendum

By: Barry White

Barry White — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 19:19:05 +0000

The City Commission has been quite creative in financing its spending binge of late. The projects of renovating both the Rec Center and the downtown fire station were paid for largely with the Build America bonds. To qualify the contiguous parcels of land were declared urban blights. The bonds are more expensive than those that could have been obtained through a General Obligation Bond Referendum. Those bonds didn’t have to be assumed after a public referendum unlike the funding CSD is seeking. Those Build America bonds did raise the mileage rate on a permanent basis however (30 years worth of obligation is fairly permanent).

The schools don’t have the same flexibility afforded to the City Commission. Unlike the CSD, the City Commission accomplished its acquisition of the money without the hue and cry that the School Board endures as they face changes to the demands on their budget. Why wasn’t anyone curious about the budget of the Beacon Hill facility for the police? The money is coming from some place. Where are the voices of the concerned? They certainly weren’t heard when the Build America Bonds were obtained.

By: JC

JC — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:37:30 +0000

Margaret, I agree. If anything I see the current trend of tearing down smaller homes and building bigger ones continuing for the foreseeable future. I would only expect school enrollment to grow over the next 10 years.

By: me

me — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 18:45:35 +0000

You’ve certainly got your finger on my pulse.

$59 million bond for CSD is a big pill to swallow.

As a Decaturite without CSD children, if I get even a whiff that this has not been properly vetted or is getting railroaded through, I’ll find it very easy not to support.

Not using the schools, I’ve always been able to justify my higher property taxes by common good arguments, and of course the schools have done very well in all that time.

$59 million really raises that bar and makes me pay a lot closer attention to what is going on.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:41:15 +0000

I agree with you Tom–just wish we had a bit more information and perhaps more public discourse about this issue. The Commissioners appear to feel similarly.

However, CSD must tread a fine line between providing information and advocating for the bond referendum (which is prohibited by law).

I’m concerned that the referendum could fail before the Commission or voters if everyone feels too rushed and uninformed.

By: TeeRuss

TeeRuss — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:39:13 +0000

I’m not sure that the Commission has adequately described the holdup here. CSD is not asking to approve a bond issuance – they are asking the Commission to approve a referendum, at which time We The People will decide whether or not to approve a bond issuance.

What exactly do they need to know in order to do the simple task of adding the referendum to November’s election? If I wasn’t so busy with work lately I’d schedule a 30 minute conference call with them myself to get them over the hump.