Voters leaning against school bond

Concern about tax increases shaped the opposition of many people, pollsters find

Two weeks before Election Day, a poll of likely Wake County voters suggests a request for $970 million in school construction bonds could be in trouble.

A poll last week of 600 likely voters found that 54 percent said they will vote against the bond issue, compared with 35 percent who said they will vote yes. Many no voters cited opposition to tax increases and a loss of confidence in the Wake school administration. Many also said that the school district is going in the wrong direction.

The poll, conducted for The News & Observer and WRAL-TV, surprised bond supporters, who said two recent surveys show the bonds would be approved.

"It's frustrating to me that people don't get it," said Ann Goodnight, co-chairwoman of Friends of Wake County, the nonprofit group formed to get the bonds passed. "It shouldn't be an emotional issue."

Goodnight and other bond supporters said the N&O poll results will encourage them to work harder.

Del Ali, president of Research 2000, the Maryland-based firm that conducted the polling, said he would be "shocked" if the bond request were approved.

The bonds would pay most of a $1.056 billion plan that calls for building 17 schools, renovating 13 others and providing money to cover land and design costs at 13 future sites. It would also pay for new computers and maintenance projects at 100 schools.

Taxes raise hackles

The bond issue would require the county to raise property taxes 4.7 cents per $100 of assessed value -- or $70 more per year on a $150,000 home. Bond supporters say it's the cheapest and fastest way to keep up with 32,000 new students predicted over the next four years.

But 55 percent of the no voters said they're opposed because they don't want taxes increased for the bonds. Most voters also oppose impact fees or a real-estate transfer tax to help pay for school construction.

Paul Terrell III, 39, a Raleigh mechanical technician, said he's voting against the bond issue because he's tired of seeing his taxes go up to pay for schools.

"They can do a little better job of doing what they're doing instead of continually going with more bonds and more taxes, more taxes, more taxes," Terrell said.

Despite the Research 2000 poll, bond supporters say they expect to win. Bill Atkinson, co-chairman of Friends of Wake, pointed to other polls which he said show the bonds are faring well.

Those in favor

A poll conducted Sept. 18 for Friends of Wake found the public favoring the bonds 56 percent to 37 percent. The survey carried a sampling margin of error of 4.5 percent with 7 percent undecided. Another poll will be conducted for the group this weekend.

The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, which favors the bond issue, said it did a poll Oct. 16 that showed the public favoring a bond issue 52 percent to 32 percent. That poll carried a margin of error of 5.77 percent with 16 percent undecided.

Fran DeLuca, director of the N.C. chapter of Americans for Prosperity, which favors limited government and is fighting the bonds, said the N&O poll encouraged him. But he doesn't want bond issue opponents to be overconfident and stay home Election Day,

"This isn't good news [for bond issue supporters]," DeLuca said. "They need to start thinking about what will happen Nov. 8."

Schools Superintendent Del Burns said no backup plan exists.

If the bond is defeated, county commissioners could spend $650 million without raising taxes. But supporters warn it could lead to fewer renovations, more schools being converted to a year-round calendar and split schedules for high schools in which some students attend class in the morning and others in the afternoon.