Board of Education Wants Pow Wow With Commissioners

The Lee County Board of Education, has invited the Lee County Board of Commissioners to a joint work session on March 10, 2008, at 5 p.m. in the Heins Education Building Assembly Room. The invitation came in the form of a letter from Board of Education Chair Bill Tatum to County Commissioner Chair Bob Brown.

The letter suggests that the commissioners and board of education discuss "future educational opportunities in meeting the emerging diversity of our student population, the 2008-09 through 2012-13 Capital Improvement Program, and consensus regarding demolition of the science building as it relates to student and faculty concerns."

The demotion of the science building refers to money the Board of Education has for the demolition of the science building as a step toward to renovation of Lee Senior High, but school leaders and students are balking at the a temporary replacement of the science building with mobile units at a cost of $91,000.

After delivery of the initial letter, the school board chairman had an email sent to the commissioners asking to add "collaborative strategy on the promotion of the quarter-cent sales tax."---an indirect reference to the renovation of Lee County High School.

Many of the groups and individuals who supported the 1/4 sales and use tax referendum did so on the basis of the funds going for the renovation of Lee Senior High, but this was stripped from a resolution adopted by the county commissioners at the eleventh hour, angering many of the sales tax proponents. (See the earlier post on this.)

According to an unscientific poll posted on the Sanford Herald's web site, the sales and use tax has not met with a favorable response. At the time of this post, the poll is holding steady with more than 60% opposing the tax . Support gained from making it clear that some of the proceeds would go to Lee County Senior High would tighten the margin but not change the outcome. As of the time of this post, the Board of Commissioners had not decided whether or not to accept the invitation of the Board of Education. Recent relations between the two boards have been icy at best. Look for an update when the response from the commissioners, expected today, is finalized.

Update: Commissioners' Response Is Mostly "POW"
Commission Chairman Bob Brown fired back a letter that set a different time and place for the meeting and insisted that the agenda would be set by him and the county manager. The reply makes clear that the most contentious subject--the Capital Improvement Plan is off limits at the meeting. The letter asks for confirmation that the Board of Education will "adhere to the terms." If the meeting takes place it will be on Monday, March 24, at 5pm in the Wicker Conference Room of the Government Center.

Public Officials Should Not Profit From Travel

Today's Sanford Herald's editorial hit the bull's eye on out of town travel per diem paid to Sanford and Lee County officials when they travel out of state. Council member Charles Taylor first raised this issue after learning that four council members attended who attended a meeting of the Na­tional League of Cities in New Or­leans last year were paid up to $ 150 a day for meals and other expenses, and for a five-night stay, per diems totaled $ 750 apiece. According to the Herald editorial, "The IRS standard per diem for meals and incidentals in New Orleans in November is $ 59, or $ 295 for five nights. . . With a new sales tax going to the ballot, rising property taxes and a business privilege tax now in effect, it’s safe to say taxpayers will be watching more closely where their money’s going." Bull's eye!

Minorities, Women Now Among Sheriff's Office Ranks

Tracy Carter ran on a a platform of change in his successful campaign for Sheriff. Most notable was the end of the City-County Drug Task Force. It was a controversial stand, but the extraordinary success of the Sheriff's Office Drug Unit under Captain John Holly seems to have more than vindicated that position.

A less widely discussed pledge was to create a department that was more representative of the community. Carter noted during the campaign that there was only one black law enforcement officer. The department's number 3 position, Major of Field Operations, was filled with Carlton Lyles, and Kent Everette was tapped as Chief Jailer, one of the top positions in the department. Both were featured in the Herald's recent series for Black History Month on African-Americans that were contributing to our community.

In addition, four other African-Americans were deputy uniforms--three of which are female. So far, this is another promise that Sheriff Carter seems to be keeping with the citizens.

Sales Tax Failing in Poll

In the last 24 hour or so, the unscientific sales tax poll has increased dramatically in respondents since it appeared on our blog. The pace of responses have picked up considerably with the number of responses increasing by 50%, and the news is not good for the tax.

Here is how things stand now.

When our report was made yesterday 156 people had voted. Now with 220 people voting the opposition to the tax has increased significantly to 60%. Those who would vote for the new tax if it made clear how much went to Lee Senior High fell from 30% to 25.5%.


Based on some math calculation the graph shows how the 64 additional participants voted.

If there are any major changes in the trends, we will keep you posted. You can vote at http://www.sanfordherald.com.

Sales Tax Gets Thumbs Down

The Sanford Herald has given the 1/4 sales tax increase a thumbs down--at least for now. This is exactly the reaction we predicted among those who had supported the sales tax as a way to pay for borrowing the money necessary to renovate the aging campus. Lee School Board Chairman Bill Tatum, who worked tirelessly to get endorsements for the additional tax on the basis of fixing the school has said that his phone was "ringing off the hook" with angry citizens as the public learned that specific mention of the Lee Senior High renovations had been stripped at the last minute from a resolution on use of the sales tax revenues. (See our blog entry for more information.)


The editorial references an unscientific poll on their web page. It shows that the tax has to have the support of those wanting Lee County Senior High to have assured funding if the tax is the be passed.

Since that editorial was written, the poll has seen the number of respondents who would vote for the new tax, if specified to renovate Lee Senior High School, go up with a corresponding drop in those who would not vote yes under any circumstances. It is likely that supporters of the renovations have been weighing in on the poll since the paper was published today and advertised the poll's existence. This is of course, as noted, a highly unscientific poll, but it can have an impact. Supporters of the tax funding for the school would be wise to make their feelings known by logging in to http://www.sanfordherald.com.

Of course, those just flat out against another tax increase would be wise to do the same thing. After all, the more that participate, the more influence the poll may have on policy makers.

Lee Senior High Renovations Stripped From Resolution

At the eleventh hour, the commissioner's stripped references to capital projects for the renovation of Lee Senior High Renovations from a resolution expressing the "intent" of the commission for the use of the 1/4 cent sales tax revenue should voters approve it in the May referendum. The renovations had been included in a draft of the resolution to the commissioners furnished before the meeting.

The action was taken in a Finance Committee Meeting at the initiation of its chairman, Commissioner Robert Rieves. His rational was that the Commissioners should not be committing to any one specific project since they had not, in fact, reached agreement on a specific solution for Lee Senior High needs. When the change was question by Commissioner John Quiggle, a former school board member, in the full commissioner's meeting, he got a similar curt answer from Rieves.

Most of the impetus at public comment sessions for the sales tax increase has come from individuals and groups concerned specifically about the Lee Senior renovations. The lack of specifics is certain to be a let down to them.

The change, however, is not likely to take a lot of steam out of support for the sales tax referendum by the advocates for Lee Senior renovations. The commissioners have made it clear without the additional referendum there is little or no chance for any significant renovations. It just appears that the commissioners are far from convinced that there is a solution that they are ready to approve.

The resolution also took out references to a new general classroom building at Central Carolina Community College.

The resolution still appears to make it clear that the proceeds will go to capital projects--not tax reduction. Under board of commission policy, the schools would still have to obtain voter approval of bond referendums before finalization of any capital projects, a fact that Commission Chair Bob Brown made clear to those present at the commissioner's meeting. The board's policy was adopted at its first meeting in December, 2006 and applies to public school financing projects. It does not, however, apply to CCCC or capital projects for purposes other than the public schools.

Tax Dollars to Be Used to Support Tax Vote

Lee County Commissioners are obviously going all out and plan to use tax payer dollars to see that the referendum for the 1/4 cent sales and use tax fills the county coffers with at least another $1.5 million a year. In a resolution passed at Monday's meeting, the County staff was instructed

to prepare materials to education the Citizens of Lee County on the need and the purpose of the 1/4 cent sales tax and the upcoming referendum and make said materials available to the public.

For a commission with a tendency to micromanage it was a sweepingly expansion mandate. No discussion on budgetary limitations for the public relations effort--just a mandate to educate the public on the "need". Note, not the pros and cons but the "need." In short, they want it to pass. Use tax dollars to sell it.

And they do want it to pass, albeit for different reasons. Commissioner Linda Shook was the only commissioner to make it clear that her support for the referendum was the expectation that the proceeds would be dedicated--at least in part-to a direct reduction in the property tax rate.

That is more than a shade different than those who use what I call "Washington Math." They see it as a way to use the $1.5 million a year to avoid up to four cents in increases in the property taxes over the coming year. To them, a property tax increase avoided is a "savings". None of them are out just to see our taxes go up--some of them just have a different view of the necessity of programs and far different priorities.

One also wonders why they think this lobbying campaign is even needed. Commissioner Jerry Lemmond had his tabulation that nearly 2/3 of speakers had favored the sales tax increase. The Chamber of Commerce and other local groups have endorsement of other groups were given as reasons to justify the referendum. If they believe what they are hearing, the tax ought to pass in a cake walk without a taxpayer paid "education campaign."

It seems that once the ball got rolling with visions of a new source of revenue the commissioners just couldn't restrain themselves.

One thing is certainly not a savings--tax dollars being spent on a campaign to lobby the public.

Starting With The Stinky Stuff

How ironic and humorous that the clean up of city government is starting with a garbage contract.Charles Taylor and Mike Stone were elected to clean up a municipal government that has been run in good old boy fashion for years. This is exactly what they are doing when questioning the incestuous relationships behind the City of Sanford's solid waste contracting process. (See Sanford Herald editorial) . According to the editorial,

At least two council members, Charles Taylor and Mike Stone, have expressed concerns about Sanford’s familial ties with Waste Management (which has had a cozy relationship with a number of current and former city and county officials and has, according to Taylor, wined and dined council and staff at a recent trip to a city conference in New Orleans and to entertainment and sports events in Raleigh).

What of the other council members? The Herald says all this has "divided" the council. It is pretty easy to see why those who were "wined and dined" might be none too happy to have this disclosed, but aren't there at least some other council members concerned, too? Or did they miss the message sent by Sanford voters that they want city government to end its good ol' boy practices and put the public interest first.

"Waiting For What" Is CCH ER Question

The issue at Central Carolina Hospital is not just how long do you wait, but exactly what quality of care awaits you. While touching on some issues of quality, the Herald's story focused mostly on the waiting times. The more serious problem is the poor quality of care whether you are seen in a matter of moments, as I was for chest pains, or at the end of the kind of stay that makes you wonder why you aren't just taking some Tylenol and going back to bed.

I believe that one never says never. The time in the night may well come when I have no choice but call Lee 911 and be rushed to the CCH ER in the middle of the night. I just pray not. My preference would be to get my wife to drive me over the Moore County line and call EMS that can take me directly to Moore Regional Hospital.

As someone who moved here four years ago, I would tell any of my friends who might be considering retirement here that the one major attribute lacking in Lee County is competent, comprehensive heath care. At the core of that problem is CCH--at what it calls the heart of the community. Scary thought, huh? Let me hear your feed back on experiences there.

"Angry White Men"--A Must Read From A Small Paper

On February 9, 2008, Gary Hubbell, a local columnist for the Aspen (Co.) Time News wrote a pointed column entitled In election 2008, don’t forget Angry White Man. The editorial has caught fire on the Internet and was read by Rush on his radio show yesterday. While we may not agree with every word or claim, the general point has a solid ring to it.

For all of the hours of punditry on Fox, MSNBC, and other stations it has been left to this local columnist to write one of the best pieces about this years election. "There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard."

His description and analysis resonates with men, and politicians of all strips will do well to paid his thoughts heed.