bonds

On November 7, people in cities and towns across North Carolina will go to the polls to vote in local government elections.  These are municipal, not county, elections, but not…

In 2012, residents of Rocky Mount started hearing about plans for an event center. The city council was talking about a project that would spur downtown economic development and…

RALEIGH – The Wake County Public School System has missed the mark in developing its $1.056 billion school facilities spending plan. That’s the conclusion of a new John Locke Foundation…

The most critical challenge facing Wake County Public Schools is to find the most responsive, cost-efficient, and timely way to provide seats for a growing student population. In this regard, the school system’s proposed $1.056 billion school facilities spending plan falls short.

Contrary to the claims of school officials and community leaders in Wake County, students do not necessarily perform better in schools that have fewer mobile units or temporary classrooms, more square feet per student, and more acreage. This finding is consistent with national and international research that found no consistent relationship between school facilities and learning. The Wake County Public School System can scale back their multi-billion construction and renovation plans without harm to student learning.

RALEIGH – The Wake County Public School System could scale back its billion-dollar school construction and renovation plans without harm to student learning. That’s the key finding in a new…

RALEIGH – More than 60 percent of Wake County voters would reject a school bond referendum that triggers a tax increase, according to a new poll commissioned by the John…

Since 2001, Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools has been building and renovating schools for much less money than other school districts in North Carolina. Their secret? Core principles emphasizing building smaller and more efficient schools, resisting pressure to add or change building features, and holding down costs without compromising quality. Other school districts should adopt these principles, combined with alternative approaches to financing and building schools, to minimize their dependence on large bond issues, maximize state and local revenue, and keep taxes low.

RALEIGH — Voters statewide will likely face votes on more than $1.5 billion in bonds for school construction this year. A new Locke Foundation Spotlight report shows taxpayers could save…

Summary: The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has proposed a capital spending plan calling for nearly $5 billion over the next decade to modernize and expand the system. To pay for it, UNC wants the authority to raise funds by the issuance of two kinds of bonds that would not be subject to voter approval. While there is undeniable need to renovate academic buildings, taking care of the worst needs over the next four years would cost about $1.1 billion and could be handled through the existing budget process if repair and renovation were made the top university priority. The need for a large-scale construction program is dubious and does not require the use of non-voter-approved bonds.