Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Florence Voters Turn Down $125 Million Bond Referendum..



Florence County School District 1 voters killed a $125 Million bond referendum on yesterday's ballot. Most people didn't even know it was being voted on - I know I didn't. It was similar to he $377 Million road tax that was passed last year. The main difference, and the main reason it was killed, was that FCSD1 didn't go out and push it like the supporters of the road tax.




FCSD1 seemed to just throw the bill on the ballot, and assume that voters would pass it. Surprise!! It lost. While too many of our schools use trailers, most of the schools are in workable condition, or would be better served by repairing, not replacing the school. And it's not like the School Board doesn' have the money to fix the needed repairs. They have over $30 Million in extra cash as we speak - refer to a post from Aug 06 - so they can keep this money for repairs, if invested properly. They are also the only School District that has it's own Foundation. The School Foundation has also raised millions for FCSD1 too.



If you want to talk about subpar schools and facilities, go next door to FCSD4. However, the School Foundation wouldn't dare give money to them. Nice.....





Good roads, good schools - they all attract poeple and businesses, but sometimes you can't have it all at once. My advice is to wait until the road tax is done, then we can buy some new schools with the exposed brick and stucco, and fancy green glass. Right now, I'd take a great teacher in an old school than subpar teachers in a new school.



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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

glad it got beat

Anonymous said...

Well, the school bond referendum in Lexington-Richland District Five was well publicized. Thankfully, this reckless spending wasn't approved.
Also, in Irmo, a candidate that The State newspaper was hell-bent on being elected, Barry Walker (Chef Fatback) was creamed by incumbent Mayor John Gibbons 68-32 percent.
Both of these races are
proof that you can't be deceived by perception. There were signs in yards all over the place from bond supporters and even moreso by Walker supporters. I think Walker probably had less votes than he had signs in people's yards.
Walker was very open about apparently making Irmo some kind of metropolis that will annex every bit of land that it could.

Anonymous said...

anon, could Charleston trade Joe Riley for Chief Fatback? They both seem to have a manifest destiny fixation.

mike, I'll guess that the foundation didn't invest a million or so as did the mafiosi, er freinds of the Charelston County School Board in outside experts on how to pass a local option sales tax, without a specific plan for the use of the funds...

Anonymous said...

I would like to apologize to any of Italian, Coriscan or Sicilian heritage that would take offense to the Mafia or La Cosa Nostra being compared to the Charleston County Consolidated School Board. Alleged organized crime is far more ethical, capable and competent and would do a far better job of running the schools.

NOW, JUST DO YA HOMEWORK, AN FUGIT ABOUT IT. RIGHT PAULIE!