Annexation and school bonds

I didn't write about the obvious results of the last town council meeting here in Selma last week. I debated about whether to report on it or just leave it alone, referring to the annexation. As I said at the previous town council meeting to some residents of McCormick Heights, the decision was already taken even before the public hearing.

For the record, here is the article on the annexation from The Selma News:

Selma annexes 5 areas on 3-2 vote

Despite near unanimous objections from residents in McCormick Heights, Selma Town Council proceeded Tuesday night with the forced annexation of five areas around town which included the residential McCormick Heights subdivision.

But, it was not a unanimous decision by Council, as it took action in a nearly packed Town Council Chamber.

Council members Jackie Lacy and Jeff Weaver voted against the forced annexation. Lacy gave a detailed explanation of her no vote prior to casting her vote. Weaver said after the Council meeting he had no comment on his vote against annexation.

Council members Gary Jackson, Debbie Johnson and Mayor Charles Hester voted in favor of the annexation.Despite near unanimous objections from residents in McCormick Heights, Selma Town Council proceeded Tuesday night with the forced annexation of five areas around town which included the residential McCormick Heights subdivision.

But, it was not a unanimous decision by Council, as it took action in a nearly packed Town Council Chamber.

Council members Jackie Lacy and Jeff Weaver voted against the forced annexation. Lacy gave a detailed explanation of her no vote prior to casting her vote. Weaver said after the Council meeting he had no comment on his vote against annexation.

Council members Gary Jackson, Debbie Johnson and Mayor Charles Hester voted in favor of the annexation.

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One item not widely reported in the media is the resolution by the town council to support the upcoming May 8th referendum for school and recreation bonds. The council passed the resolution without reading it in public or publishing it. I had to get a copy from the town clerk. Thank you, Fran Davis. I appreciate that. Here is the resolution:

WHEREAS, the Town of Selma is dedicated to maintaining a strong and supportive working relationship with the Johnston County Schools to provide superior academic instruction and outstanding educational opportunities to its youth; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Selma is also dedicated to maintaining a strong, viable community college program so that Johnston County Schools graduates can continue their educational careers and adults from all walks of like can engage in continuing education; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Selma is committed to attaining and preserving the highest quality of life for its citizenry through its partnership with the local Board of Education and Johnston Community College; and

WHEREAS, the school population of Johnston County continues to grow at an accelerated rate requiring additional school facilities; and

WHEREAS, the people of Selma and all of Johnston County have been dedicated to the cause of new construction for schools to accommodate this growth; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Selma desires to assist the Board of Education in meeting its facility needs for the benefit of our youth, our citizens and our community; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Selma recognizes that a commitment to quality education results in an elite world force which attracts commerce and spurs economic development at the benefit of the town’s people; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina Statute 115C-503 authorizes a local board of education to petition the local board of county commissioners for an election to ascertain the will of the voters as to whether bonds for school facility purposes may be issued;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Selma supports the education and recreation facilities bond referendum scheduled for May 8, 2007.

This resolution was duly considered and approved by the Town of Selma at its meeting on April 10, 2007.

I have already written my opinion on the bond issue. Unfortunately, voters here in North Carolina have never seen a bond issue they didn't support. I see very little criticism of the spending habits of the government schools. There is always the guilt trip laid on people for not supporting the bonds, because as we all know, they are "for the children". That lame excuse goes a long way with the gullible sheeple that vote in this state and with those who don't have sufficient spine to stand up against the majority.

I have that spine, and I have even rewritten a new resolution that I would love to see passed but will never happen. Here it is:

WHEREAS, the majority of the burden for paying taxes in Johnston County is unfairly borne by property owners, many of whom do not have children in public schools; and

WHEREAS, the school system already gets millions of dollars in financial support from the county, the state, and the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the school system population is growing as a direct result of the influx of illegal immigrants that are already given government benefits, and education not necessarily available to long term or native residents; and

WHEREAS, there are charter schools in this state that thrive with creative means of utilizing facilities for their academic institutions; and

WHEREAS, many of these same charter schools are able to finance new school construction without the benefit of the additional monies supplied to the public schools for school construction, which is the reason for the aforementioned school bond; and

WHEREAS, the public schools have a lower level of academic achievement today than any time in documented history of academics in this nation; and

WHEREAS, the very innovators of the concept of smaller class are the ones who are currently abandoning that concept as flawed, expensive, and non-productive; and

WHEREAS, the government has already indentured the taxpayers of this county, municipality, state, and nation with a high level of indebtedness far greater than at any time in history; and

WHEREAS, government construction and administration projects are notoriously inefficient and great wastes of taxpayer monies; and

WHEREAS, neither the Johnston County School System nor Johnston Community College have demonstrated sufficient efforts so as to ensure the utmost in stewardship and efficiency with existing taxpayer monies; and

WHEREAS, the taxpayers of this state have already been swindled by inefficient government initiatives such as "Smart Start" and "More at Four"; and

WHEREAS, private and home schools have, in general, been demonstrated to surpass the education quality of our public schools; and

WHEREAS, there is no freedom of choice as to where parents may send their children in the public school system, thereby creating competition in education thereby boosting academic performance; and

WHEREAS, recreational facilities are a nice thing to have for the county and municipalities but are not necessities thereof; and

WHEREAS, there are far more important things to spend taxpayer monies upon than recreation facilities such as infrastructure improvements;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Selma encourages the county's voters to defeat the education and recreation facilities bond referendum scheduled for May 8, 2007.

I am a little suspicious of this bond, since I can not seem to find much information on it. It has been mentioned in the local newspapers in the past, but I am looking for more dollar figures as well as any mention of who paid for the billboards giving support to the bond referendum. I have been "googling" and looking on county and school sites. No real info so far on the bond.