Editor Finds Himself Part of Tax Committee
Note: I broke the news on this group in a post just a couple of days ago. (Click Here to Read that Post) Little did I know that I would be asked to substitute for a representative of the group Friends of Lee County High School and become a part of the event myself. I track events and write this blog because I feel the readers need to have a perspective on the events and issues taking place in Lee County. It wasn't intended to be about me. I called my friend Bill Horner at the Herald and asked him how one professionally reported on an event in which he was a participant. He said to write it in the first person and give my impressions. Here they are. I welcome your comments.
When this group was formed, I had hoped that it would be a private forum for dealing with the issue of LCHS renovations. My hopes were dimmed considerably with a ruling that the meeting was subject to the open meetings law and open to the press. Nothing like a reporter in a room to tame candid discussions about tough decisions among good, civic minded people. Then it was clear various groups were coming armed with their staffs. Staff don't usually resolve issues that the bosses won't or can't.
The decision that the meeting was public is a major blow. If the meeting is public, the documents are public. Media or opponents need only walk in and ask for public documents. My biggest regret is not bringing serious attention to this dilemma.
Upon arrival was an agenda laid out by Bob Joyce of the Chamber of Commerce. It looked just like at least five or more others from other causes in other places that I had participated in before. It was the mechanics of running a referendum campaign with the usual topics like materials and speakers bureau. There was, however, one big difference. The first item was "Think Positive!" It was a faint but visible sign that this was a coalition forced by the county's financial needs instead of a cause that needed no rallying cry.
I had the feeling no one wanted to be negative and, hence, blamed for what could well be the failure of the tax referendum. But there is a lot of difference in wanting to not be negative and being enthusiastic for a cause. The search for a cause came with the next agenda item--a name for the group.
After discussion we came up with a name for the group, A Fair Tax For Lee County. I was mindful that we could not, with the vague resolution passed by the commissioners, come up with a name for what people would be buying but were focusing on the nature of the tax.
Early on, while discussing possible names for the group, there was a sharp moment when Commissioner Jamie Kelly turned and asked me if a comment I made meant I would support the tax. That decision had been made when I signed on to represent Friends of Lee County High School, and I answered yes. It did not mean, however, that my advocacy for the full funding of LCHS would stop.
On the agenda was a line item for frequently asked questions that the public might have. Someone said, "What is the money being used for." I waited until the moderator was almost ready to move on and said "Well one obvious question is what about the funding of renovations of Lee County High School." I got the tactful reply from Bob Joyce that we should get the tax passed first and then there would be plenty of time to work out how the money was spent.
My first reaction was that this would certainly thrust the issue into the arena of the fall elections--a place I would not have assumed that incumbent commissioners would want it to be. My second thought was that we were violating a best practice of passing referendums--always address the voters concerns. Imagine a button, "Vote Yes And Get Something."
Yet, there were advocates from the board of education present and others who must feel the same way. I wasn't going to be the one to light a fuse to a subject that was in a setting too hot to handle and resolve. Not as a substitute for an organization with its regular leader to my right. As time passes I wonder about my decision.
We had been asked to sign on to selling what the commissioners had passed, and I like everyone else had signed on to the agenda at the start. Once I join in a team effort, I feel great pressure to stick with it. I worked hard to be constructive and subtle on several key points. For example, I attempted to push for more specific statements about the non-educational needs that would be met but found no support for doing so. Several others of the group had obvious campaign experience, too. Among us there was candor about the short time frame to carry out a difficult task but no out of the box thinking on any new approaches. My colleague representing Friends of Lee County made positive contributions and was struggling to support the cause.
I thought the difficulty of raising a budget of $10-15000 was glossed over. I mused about suggesting that the county fund a larger part of the effort. I found myself even subtly raising the point. I thought how ironic because such a decision would be a headline post in the E-Lee Dispatch. It was an interesting temptation. Yet as a member of the group, it seemed an avenue worth pursuing.
And, after all, county employees were present, and it was noted that both the county government and the school board had assigned personnel to work on the effort. County manager John Crumpton explained what is considered the line they have to walk--government resources can be spent on educational activities but cannot advocate how to vote on the issue. I thought about how difficult a line to tippy-toe down. I imagined someone from the county doing an "educational Powerpoint" and then having to hand it off to some non-government employee to add the last slide that said "Vote Yes." The meeting felt more and more bureaucratic as the minutes wore on.
It was a measure of the dryness of the meeting that it finished 15 minutes early. One could certainly tell that no full dialog on the LCHS situation had consumed any time.
I don't know if I will be filling in as a representative of Friends of Lee County High School again or not. If I am asked, I will do so out of loyalty to the cause. And, after all, I signed on to the agenda. But I have come to realize that buying in is much harder.
It was a while after the meeting that I realized that one issue was never brought up directly.
What did the group think the chances of the referendum passing would be if nothing were done?
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