The New Hanover County elections board and board of education will hold a joint meeting Tuesday to discuss “general election matters,” according to a notice—though those matters do not include what voters might expect: the upcoming schools bond referendum on the November ballot.
Rather, the meeting will focus on Election Day in general, and specifically the polling places housed at county schools. Elections Director Marvin McFadyen said the meeting is intended to address security and space and parking needs at the 14 schools that serve as polling places, as well as, he said, to “look at better ways for the two agencies to work together.”
McFadyen said recent elections have been held when schools are in session, making it challenging to accommodate parking and space needs of students and voters while also ensuring students’ security. He said a hope is that election days could be coordinated with teacher work days, when students are not in school and security measures are less of an issue. The last time that was done was the last presidential election, McFadyen said.
“We would like to see the board of education take that initiative, and they have the authority,” McFadyen said, referring to scheduling teacher work days on election days.
County schools make up 14 of New Hanover’s 43 polling places, McFadyen said. Three polling places are also maintained at higher-education facilities: two at Cape Fear Community College; one at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
Tuesday’s meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the Board of Education Center at 1805 S. 13th St. in Wilmington.
As for the bond referendum, McFadyen noted that is decided between the school board and county commissioners, which have approved the referendum’s addition to the ballot that will go before voters on November 4.
Story: Bond referendum for New Hanover County Schools to be on November ballot
The $160 million in additional debt would be used to fund 14 school projects that are considered high-priority. Those projects include: a new elementary school in the northeast part of the county; demolition and reconstruction of College Park and Blair elementary schools; systemwide infrastructure improvements; additions and improvements to Laney, Hoggard and New Hanover high schools; improvements for Roland-Grise, Noble, Trask and Myrtle Grove middle schools; and improvements to Wrightsville Beach Elementary School.
Commissioners have noted that approval of the bonds could require an increase of as much as 9 cents on the property tax rate. The bonds amount would equate to 3 cents on the tax rate, though County Manager Chris Coudriet has said he would recommend a 4 cent increase to cover the cost of the debt over the next 20 years.
Coudriet has also said an additional 5 cent increase would be needed no later than next year to adequately pay off the county’s outstanding debt—currently $411 million, $165 million of which is related to the school system specifically.
Related stories:
- Former county manager calls for more education on schools bond tax increase
- County recommends schools bond amount of $160 million
- New Hanover budget would maintain current tax rate; manager advises increase soon
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
