THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170054
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Dare County Republicans are not opposed to improving education. But the leader of the local GOP said Tuesday that he does not think that higher taxes are needed to pay for it.
Last month, the Dare County Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval to an education budget that includes $3 million over the next four years for computer technology.
A 3-cent increase in real property taxes, commissioners say, is needed to pay for technological additions and extra teachers.
Elected officials say all of the newly generated revenues would be earmarked for education.
If approved, property taxes in Dare County would increase from 37 to 40 cents per $100 in value. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $30 in taxes annually.
``We see so much money being spent on so many programs,'' said the party chairman, Danny Gray. ``When these commissioners were elected, they promised to cut the size of government. Instead, we're seeing government get larger.''
The Republican Party's county executive committee has decided to put its money where its mouth is to fight the tax increase. This week, three Dare County radio stations began airing commercials paid for by the GOP, urging residents to oppose the increase - and to turn out for one of three public hearings on the county's proposed 1995-97 budget. The first public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Cape Hatteras School in Buxton.
Gray said instead of spending money on technology, the county's educational emphasis should be on the basics.
``We need to get back to the three R's,'' Gray said. ``It would be different if the money was going to the children. But it's not.''
Dare County Commissioner Doug Langford, whose seven-member board is all Democratic, took a different view.
``One hundred percent of this money is going into the classroom,'' Langford said Tuesday. ``He (Gray) obviously hasn't read the budget.''
Langford was part of a three-member Board of Commissioners task force that hammered out a budget agreement with the Dare County Board of Education this year. Asked what assurances he could give that funding from the tax increase would go to the schools, Langford said, ``I don't believe I can give any more assurance than the representations members of the school board have made to me. I'm comfortable with those representations.''
While there are no laws that require the school board to spend the new revenues in a specified way, Langford said he is confident that the Board of Education will act properly.
``It's not our job to make policy for the school board. That's the job they are elected to do,'' Langford said. ``And they do it quite well.''
Langford also encouraged the public to ask questions on the proposed county education and general fund budgets. No tax hike is needed to pay for the county's general operating expense for the 1995-97 fiscal years, he said.
``I think the public's asking questions is healthy,'' Langford said. ``The people have a right to know where their money is going. They should demand accountability.''
A member of the Dare County Board of Education, Fletcher Willey, said the funding issue extends beyond politics.
``Children don't come with R's (for Republican) or D's (for Democrat) stamped on their foreheads,'' said Willey. ``It's our job to provide every child in Dare County with the maximum opportunity to receive the best possible education. Once the public is presented with all the true facts, I'm confident that the vast majority of people in Dare County will vote to give the children of Dare County the maximum educational opportunity by supporting this budget.''
Answering Gray's concern about education fundamentals, Willey said the information explosion has made computers a necessary part of the education process.
``I would agree with Mr. Gray that the three R's are important,'' said Willey. ``But with the explosion of knowledge, it's more and more important for children to be able to think analytically. With the vast amount of information that children have to deal with, computers are necessary.''
Willey said the school board will provide the Dare County Board of Commissioners with a close accounting of expenditures if the tax increase becomes a reality.
At least one member of the county board is opposed to the proposed school budget. Shirley Hassell, a Manns Harbor Democrat, cast the lone ``no'' vote against it last month.
She could not be reached for comment Tuesday. At the time of the vote, Hassell said she opposes the proposed education budget ``as a matter of conscience.''
``I'm all for quality education for our children,'' Hassell said. ``I look at the fact that Dare County ranks among the highest counties in the lowest of states. I think we need to concentrate more on the basics and the three R's.''
Along with $3 million for technology over four years, the education budget provides for 13 new teachers; $240,000 in 1996-97 for implementation of a merit pay plan; and $250,000 in each of the next three years for roof repairs. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Dare County Board of Commissioners will hold three public
hearings on the proposed 1995-97 general fund and education budgets,
and a proposed 3-cent real property tax increase to be earmarked for
public schools.
The hearings will be held:
Monday at 7 p.m. at Cape Hatteras School in Buxton.
June 5 at 7 p.m. at the Board of Commissioners meeting room in
Manteo.
June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Thomas A. Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills.
by CNB