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John Kennedy once said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
The minds of our students in Watauga County and the development of these minds will determine the future of our county.
Consistent with this thinking, we Democrat Commissioners believe that true human values equal making tough choices about our county’s priorities. Our children are counting on us to make the right financial decisions. Consequently, a modest tax increase is necessary to renovate Watauga High School.
It is important when discussing this issue for citizens to consider the condition of Watauga High School, a 40-year-old, over-crowded, out-of-date facility. The Board of Education spent a year studying the High School and looking at the needs for the future. This study included meetings in every area of Watauga County and discussions with representatives from every elementary school district. This committee explored several options, including two high schools, a new location for one high school, staying at the present location, and renovation versus building a new building. At the end of this year-long process, it was decided that there should be one high school in Watauga County. The Board of Education endorsed this idea and decided to remain at the existing location, rather than build a new high school at a different site. Had the Board of Education chosen to relocate, the cost would have been in excess of $50 million.
We as Commissioners faced a decision: What should we do to support the decision reached by the Board of Education and the citizens of the County? We determined, based upon discussions with the Board of Education, that approximately $20 million would be needed to renovate the existing Watauga High School, including the demolition of outdated portions and the building of some new facilities. The next question was how do we pay for the $20 million? There were three primary options:
Continue the $750,000 yearly set-aside established by the previous Board of Commissioners;
Increase the tax rate slowly, stretching the program over a longer period of time;
Increase the tax rate now by four and one-half cents.
Had we chosen to continue the old set-aside, it would have taken 27 years to accumulate $20 million, which would mean that we could not begin the construction for 27 years, and the cost by then would be far in excess of the current estimate of $20 million.
Had we chosen to borrow the $20 million now and to pay that back out of the old set-aside, it would take 50 years at the current estimated interest rate to pay back $20 million. The interest that the County would pay over 50 years would be in excess of $30 million, bringing the total project cost to $50 million. I would call this option “penny wise and pound foolish.”
Had we chosen to increase the tax-rate more slowly, we would have less money available up-front for the construction, which would increase the borrowing costs. The County would also have to pay additional interest and increase the tax-rate in the future to be able to make these payments. This would also have increased the total interest that the County would be paying and also increase the period of time that the County would have to make these payments.
By choosing to increase the tax-rate now by four and one-half cents, the County will accumulate $5 million over two fiscal years. This $5 million will be applied to the building project, necessitating a loan of only $15 million. Using the current estimated interest rate, the County will be able to pay this $15 million back over a ten-year period, limiting the amount of interest the County will pay to less than $4 million. This option means that the total cost to the taxpayers will be approximately $24 million, which includes principal and interest.
In comparing these options, which choice seems to be in the best long-term interest of the citizens of Watauga County? To we three Democrat Commissioners, it clearly appears that raising the tax-rate four and one-half cents now will save the County taxpayers far more money in the long run than a lower tax-rate increase or trying to keep the current set-aside with a slight increase.
The people who oppose the tax increase believe that the priority should be keeping the tax-rate low at all costs, even our children’s future.
We are taking a long-term view. It is our opinion that the job of a Commissioner is to look at the long-term impact of a proposal, rather than focusing on just the immediate impact. In addition to this, it is important to realize that our plan is directed at trying to provide updated and new facilities to the students as soon as possible.
Every year that we wait means that a group of students will be attending Watauga High School in a facility that is totally inadequate. This building does not provide the opportunities that our students need and deserve. If you doubt this, ask any of the people who have visited the numerous high schools in the state that are newly built or newly renovated.
The cost of this increase to the average taxpayer is approximately $1 per week. It is our opinion that the average taxpayer in Watauga County shares our values and is more than willing to give up a couple of soft drinks or one good cup of coffee a week to provide a better education for our children.
As citizens, you need to also remember what we’ve accomplished with the rest of the budget. Few requesting departments got everything they asked for; most got considerably less. But we added two deputies to the Sheriff’s Department, and we are completing the new jail at the size requested by the Sheriff. This was the right choice. Had we opened the smaller jail recommended by the previous Board of Commissioners, it would have been full to capacity immediately. Expanding it later would mean far greater cost than completing it now. Ours was a decision that in the long run will save the citizens of Watauga County money.
Republican president James Garfield wrote, “Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.” We believe that freedom and justice in Watauga County can best be maintained by providing educational opportunities that will enable our young people to realize their dreams and benefit all our people.
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