Chamber of Commerce backs state bond referendum

BY BRAD A. HODGES
SALISBURY POST

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce has endorsed a $3.1-billion statewide bond referendum for public universities and community colleges on the ballot this fall.

The chamber’s executive board unanimously favored the issue Monday, noting that Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s two campuses could stand to get more than $11 million.

“We’re behind it because, obviously, when we’re talking about workforce development in Rowan County, the community college plays a large role in that,” said Bob Wright, chamber director.

If passed, the Nov. 7 referendum would give Rowan-Cabarrus $11.1 million during the next five years. But the Rowan and Cabarrus county governments would have to put up millions more to receive it. Here’s the plan:

n Rowan County taxpayers would have to spend $3.7 million to obtain $5.2 million in state funds. The money would pay for new construction on the north campus at Jake Alexander Boulevard and Interstate 85.

n Cabarrus County taxpayers would need to pay $3.5 million to get $4.4 million for new construction on the campus at I-85 and N.C. 73.

n The bonds also would provide $1.6 million for repairs and renovation on both campuses.

State Treasurer Harlan Boyles has said that the General Assembly would not to have raise income taxes to pay off the bonds but would draw the money from other areas.

But John Hood, executive director of the John Locke Foundation, a conservative organization in Raleigh, disagrees. He said voters would be better served if community colleges sought support through separate, local bonds. He said the bonds will likely lead to an income tax increase and might require local property tax increases — depending on how much each county decides to match.

“It’s highly likely that there will be property tax increases if the bonds pass, in addition to income tax increases,” Hood said.

Rowan County commissioners will likely discuss the bond referendum in September and may endorse the bonds, County Manager Tim Russell said.

“Our board has been very conservative but, at the same time, very progressive with the community college,” Russell said. “ ... That would be difficult without raising taxes or finding some alternate method of funding. I’m not being naive. That’s a substantial amount on money.”

State education officials say North Carolina’s 59 community colleges need to serve 57,000 new students in the next decade. The University of North Carolina system expects 48,000 new students.

If the bond is approved, state officials plan to distribute $2.5 billion to the 16-campus university system and up to $600 million to the 59 community colleges.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte stands to gain $190 million for new academic buildings and renovation of existing ones. Some of it would replace money for a $28 million-humanities building. Money for that project was diverted last year to help victims of hurricanes in eastern North Carolina.

Jeff Lowrance, spokesman for UNCC, said the university has not been able to grow at all in the past two years because it lacks the room.

“If it does not pass, we’re not going to be able to grow to meet the needs of the population around us. The whole population is growing so quickly,” Lowrance said.