DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997             TAG: 9703260457

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:  100 lines

DARE SCHOOL BOND WILL GO TO THE VOTERS ON MAY 20

All the I's are dotted, all the T's are crossed and campaign lines are clearly drawn.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners formally put a $59.5 million school bond issue in the hands of the voters Tuesday.

By a 4-2 vote, the board approved resolutions setting a May 20 vote on the controversial construction package. The action came after citizens on both sides of the issue fired verbal salvos that will be echoed until the issue is decided at the polls.

Commissioners Geneva Perry, Shirley Hassell, Doug Langford and Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. supported the resolution. Cheryl Byrd and Richard Johnson voted against it.

Johnson reiterated his contention that the building plan did not consider the burden on citizens with fixed incomes. Byrd said that while she supported the idea of a new beach high school, many of the projects included in the bond plan are not needed.

Commissioner Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett was absent. His daughter was in Norfolk giving birth to the commissioner's first grandchild.

Citizens who spoke in support of the bond, such as Chuck Burton of Nags Head, said there are three reasons to vote for the bond: need, cost-effectiveness and benefit.

``Numerous studies, as well as our own history, have shown that there's a need for these facilities and improvements,'' Burton said, ``and the plan deserves the whole-hearted endorsement of the board of commissioners as it is written and advertised.''Burton acknowledged that taxes will have to increase with passage of the bond. However, to delay would drive facilities costs even higher, he said.

``Taxes to support education are going to go up whether this bond passes or not, and (a delay) will only increase the cost we pay in the future. The high school originally included in the 1988 bond at an estimated cost of under $10 million is expected to cost nearly three times as much,'' Burton said. ``What will another delay bring except more expensive facilities, while burdening our children with more years of overcrowded classrooms?''

Burton contended that passage of the bond would boost economic development.

``One of the key elements to our successful economic growth and health is our education system,'' Burton said. ``Every citizen, without exception, benefits from the continued support of schools.''

But Manteo businessman Uli Bennewitz said the real issue at the heart of the referendum is a struggle for political clout.

``The real issue is power,'' Bennewitz said. ``Bond supporters have stated again and again that they control the school board now; the county commissioners are next. This is not an issue of for or against education, and certainly not an issue of `doing this for our children.' This is purely and simply a political struggle for power.''

Bennewitz said supporters of the school bond have used intimidation against those who question the bond. He said he received threats of a boycott after a citizen meeting was held at his Roanoke Island restaurant. And he said there have been threats of violence.

``I studied the 1933 era in Germany very carefully,'' Bennewitz said. ``It started with a small group of fanatics who intimidated neighborhoods and used the democratic system to get their way. They used threats of violence and other methods, all of course for a good cause. The political leadership at the time felt that appeasement would be the easiest way to deal with the issue, and they were wrong.''

Bennewitz praised commissioners for sending the issue to a referendum, but he also sounded a cautionary note.

``I applaud you for making the decision to bring the matter to a vote in May. But now you owe it to yourself, your constituents and your county to get involved and to make sure intimidation and bullying do not win the day,'' Bennewitz said.

Commissioners, also by a 4-2 vote, rejected a motion by Hassell to pass a resolution that called for funding through certificates of participation (COPS) for certain school construction projects if the bond fails in May. Perry, Langford, Byrd and Owens voted against the Hassell resolution, while Johnson and Hassell supported it.

``I agree with the spirit of the motion,'' Perry said. ``But it's not a proper avenue for us to take at this time. In our elected capacity, it's important that we set aside our personal feelings on whether we're for or against the bond. It has to go to the people from us without indicating support or opposition to the bond. The people will tell us that.''

Byrd pointed out that in order to approve COPS funding for school construction, the Dare County Board of Education must also support the idea. ``We need to understand that any COPS funding has to be done with the cooperation of the school board,'' Byrd said. ``We have to have the deeds of trust. It's not our choice alone.''

COPS is a funding mechanism by which the board of commissioners may approve funding for a project without a popular vote. In the case of funding for school construction, the board of education would have to turn over deeds of trust for the affected school property to the county for the life of the debt.

Johnson, however, said the COPS resolution would provide another option for voters.

``I don't think it's too early,'' Johnson said of the Hassell motion. ``If we don't do it, it limits the option of people who vote. This will let people know that when this bond fails, the schools are going to get their roofs fixed.''

After the vote on the Hassell resolution, Owens, in a statement, expressed confidence that if the bond fails, school needs will be met.

``I feel certain that if the vote happened to be against on the school bond issue, the board of commissioners would be willing to work with the board of education with certificates of participation,'' Owens said. ``One way or the other we will work toward the betterment of education facilities for all of Dare County-Hatteras Island, Roanoke Island and the beaches.''

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