2008 Woodie Awards
What's a bond...and why should I care?
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 10/24/06 Section: Opinions
On your way to Target or downtown, you may have noticed blue and white signs urging you to "Vote Yes on All the Bonds." So what are these bonds - and should you care?
A bond is a proposed project with earmarked funds that is put on the ballot as a referendum, to be voted on by the electorate. In this way, Greensboro voters get to choose the property tax-funded projects they think are most worthy of the city's time and their money. These bond projects are aimed at improvement of the city's infrastructure, economic development, and public facilities and services such as parks and libraries. There are 11 bonds on the Greensboro ballot this year, and the Citizens Committee for Greensboro (sponsor of those blue-and-white signs) wants voters to approve all of them.
As students, you may wonder why you should care about these bonds. The honest answer? Maybe you shouldn't.
Many UNCG students, living on-campus or off, don't plan to live in Greensboro any longer than it takes to earn a degree. Many of you aren't even registered to vote here - in which case, you won't be able to vote on these bonds, so you may want to just quit reading now.
However, if you plan to live in Greensboro for at least five years (and we mean live in it, not just split your time between campus and your hometown), these bonds can make a difference in your life, even if you're not able to vote on them. For example, funding for new fire stations could mean faster response time to campus fire alarms, and if you've ever wished there were more local parks, trails, or a skate park, you might pull for the Parks and Recreation bond.
We're not going to make endorsements, but here are the bonds we think are most likely to have an impact on your life in Greensboro, whether you're voting or not.
Fire Stations: ($24.5 million) This bond would fund five new fire stations in eastern Greensboro, as well as land for future stations. If you live on campus or rent in the city, more fire stations could mean faster response time should you have a fire. The potential benefits may be more appealing if you plan to live in GSO long-term.
Parks and Recreation Facilities: ($5 million) With this bond neighborhood parks will be developed, land purchased for future parks, the trail system expanded, and a skate park constructed, among other things. If your idea of recreation expands beyond trips to the movies or the mall, you may want to take a closer look at this proposal.
International Civil Rights Museum: ($5 million) Who doesn't know the story of the students at the Woolworth's counter downtown who challenged segregation and racism in the 1960s? If you don't, you're either a freshman or just haven't been listening. This museum would be valuable to students who want to immerse themselves in Civil Rights history.
War Memorial Auditorium: ($36 million) If you're at all a fan of cultural events, and especially if you've attended any in the decrepit Auditorium, you may be interested in this proposal to renovate seating, add restrooms, and bring the auditorium up-to-date with handicapped accessibility.
Swimming Center: ($9 million) The proposed center would be built on the Greensboro Coliseum Complex grounds and managed by Coliseum staff. With a 50-meter pool and a diving well, among other things, the center would provide space for recreational and competitive swimming year-round. If you're one of the rare students who stays in GSO over the summer, you may take interest in this proposal.
The other six bonds are harder to justify student enthusiasm for, either because they focus on neighborhoods outside the UNCG area or on facilities students probably don't even know about. For example, the Greensboro Historical Museum bond, not to be confused with the Civil Rights Museum. Most of you probably haven't heard of it - some of us hadn't. This is not to say you shouldn't care - just that you probably don't.
Also on the yawn-list are: Neighborhood Redevelopment, which would focus on the Ole Asheboro area; War Memorial Baseball Stadium, which has practically been forgotten with the popularity of the stadium downtown; Economic Development, which would fund development of corporate parks and other incentives to industry; Library Facilities, which wouldn't do much for the library downtown, the one UNCG students are most likely to use; and Public Building Renovations, which would fund updates like new roofs for public buildings such as City Hall.
Again, these aren't endorsements - just the run-down of which bonds we think you're most likely to give a damn about. If you disagree with our evaluations, feel free to write us a letter and contribute to student dialogue about the bond issue. We'd be happy just to know you care.
More about the bonds can be found on the Citizens Committee for Greensboro promotional website at www.gsobonds.com.
A bond is a proposed project with earmarked funds that is put on the ballot as a referendum, to be voted on by the electorate. In this way, Greensboro voters get to choose the property tax-funded projects they think are most worthy of the city's time and their money. These bond projects are aimed at improvement of the city's infrastructure, economic development, and public facilities and services such as parks and libraries. There are 11 bonds on the Greensboro ballot this year, and the Citizens Committee for Greensboro (sponsor of those blue-and-white signs) wants voters to approve all of them.
As students, you may wonder why you should care about these bonds. The honest answer? Maybe you shouldn't.
Many UNCG students, living on-campus or off, don't plan to live in Greensboro any longer than it takes to earn a degree. Many of you aren't even registered to vote here - in which case, you won't be able to vote on these bonds, so you may want to just quit reading now.
However, if you plan to live in Greensboro for at least five years (and we mean live in it, not just split your time between campus and your hometown), these bonds can make a difference in your life, even if you're not able to vote on them. For example, funding for new fire stations could mean faster response time to campus fire alarms, and if you've ever wished there were more local parks, trails, or a skate park, you might pull for the Parks and Recreation bond.
We're not going to make endorsements, but here are the bonds we think are most likely to have an impact on your life in Greensboro, whether you're voting or not.
Fire Stations: ($24.5 million) This bond would fund five new fire stations in eastern Greensboro, as well as land for future stations. If you live on campus or rent in the city, more fire stations could mean faster response time should you have a fire. The potential benefits may be more appealing if you plan to live in GSO long-term.
Parks and Recreation Facilities: ($5 million) With this bond neighborhood parks will be developed, land purchased for future parks, the trail system expanded, and a skate park constructed, among other things. If your idea of recreation expands beyond trips to the movies or the mall, you may want to take a closer look at this proposal.
International Civil Rights Museum: ($5 million) Who doesn't know the story of the students at the Woolworth's counter downtown who challenged segregation and racism in the 1960s? If you don't, you're either a freshman or just haven't been listening. This museum would be valuable to students who want to immerse themselves in Civil Rights history.
War Memorial Auditorium: ($36 million) If you're at all a fan of cultural events, and especially if you've attended any in the decrepit Auditorium, you may be interested in this proposal to renovate seating, add restrooms, and bring the auditorium up-to-date with handicapped accessibility.
Swimming Center: ($9 million) The proposed center would be built on the Greensboro Coliseum Complex grounds and managed by Coliseum staff. With a 50-meter pool and a diving well, among other things, the center would provide space for recreational and competitive swimming year-round. If you're one of the rare students who stays in GSO over the summer, you may take interest in this proposal.
The other six bonds are harder to justify student enthusiasm for, either because they focus on neighborhoods outside the UNCG area or on facilities students probably don't even know about. For example, the Greensboro Historical Museum bond, not to be confused with the Civil Rights Museum. Most of you probably haven't heard of it - some of us hadn't. This is not to say you shouldn't care - just that you probably don't.
Also on the yawn-list are: Neighborhood Redevelopment, which would focus on the Ole Asheboro area; War Memorial Baseball Stadium, which has practically been forgotten with the popularity of the stadium downtown; Economic Development, which would fund development of corporate parks and other incentives to industry; Library Facilities, which wouldn't do much for the library downtown, the one UNCG students are most likely to use; and Public Building Renovations, which would fund updates like new roofs for public buildings such as City Hall.
Again, these aren't endorsements - just the run-down of which bonds we think you're most likely to give a damn about. If you disagree with our evaluations, feel free to write us a letter and contribute to student dialogue about the bond issue. We'd be happy just to know you care.
More about the bonds can be found on the Citizens Committee for Greensboro promotional website at www.gsobonds.com.
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