First ad against school bonds appears

RALEIGH -- Opponents of this fall's $970 million Wake County school construction bond referendum presented their first campaign ad Wednesday.

The ad, which will appear today in the Wake Weekly and later in the Apex Herald, the Fuquay-Varina Independent, the Garner News and the Holly Springs Sun, says the bond issue is the "wrong way."

It's sponsored by Americans For Prosperity-North Carolina, an advocacy group that favors limited government and fiscal restraint.

WHAT THE AD SAYS

"Higher taxes. More reassignments. Fewer choices for parents. Just say NO to the billion dollar bond-tax!"

IS IT TRUE?

Paying to build and operate the new schools that would be funded by the bond issue could eventually raise property taxes by 4.7 cents per $100 of assessed value, or $71 more per year on a $150,000 home. Supporters say the bonds are cheaper than other alternatives for the same amount of money.

School leaders say it's inevitable that they'll have to reassign students to fill new schools, with or without the bonds.

The bond issue will help pay for the conversion of schools to a year-round calendar and the construction of mandatory year-round schools. Supporters say it is needed to keep up with growth.

WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE?

Americans For Prosperity has suggested alternatives to the bond issue:

•Put a smaller $650 million bond issue on the ballot that won't raise taxes. Critics say it's not enough to pay for dealing with 42,000 more students by 2010.

•No renovations, except for health and safety, that don't add net seats. Critics say it's not fair for only the students going to new schools to get modern facilities.

•Have the school board support support lifting the cap on charter schools. Critics say charters wouldn't significantly provide enough seats and that it is up to the General Assembly to lift the cap.

•Scrap mandatory year-round schools because they are more expensive to build and operate and restrict choice. Bond supporters say the point of using year-round schools is that, because they are bigger and hold more students, they cut down on construction needs.

•Use county hotel/motel taxes to help for schools. It would require a change in state law, wouldn't provide much money and would likely be opposed by hotel and motel owners.

•Build schools on smaller campuses. School leaders say they need a certain amount of land to deal with environmental regulations and local ordinances.

•Split the Wake district into several smaller school systems with neighborhood schools. Critics of the idea warn it could lead to resegregation.

WHO'S PAYING FOR IT?

Americans For Prosperity-North Carolina is paying "thousands of dollars" for the ad through its nonprofit but non-tax-deductible arm. It also says several Wake County parents paid for the ad but won't identify them. The group plans to form a campaign committee, Citizens For Quality Education, to oppose the bond issue.

THE OPPOSING VIEW

Friends of Wake County, the committee formed to get the bonds passed, will begin mailing fliers and running television, radio and newspaper ads in early October.