Listen to the experts. North Carolina Treasurer Harlan Boyles says the community college and university bonds will ìsignificantly ease the property tax burden of county governments when it comes to upgrading community colleges.

Bill Stanley, immediate past president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners says, ìby any measure the bonds will be a windfall to county taxpayers throughout the state, significantly cutting local costs to meet continuing career education facilities needs.

If voters approve the community college and university bonds on November 7, some $600 million will go to every community college in the state to pay for upgrading, repairing, renovating and building new facilities. Those improvements are vital to continuing North Carolinaís educational opportunity and economic progress.

Some critics of the bonds are alleging that the bonds might force counties to raise taxes. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact is, the $600 million investment in community colleges is a tremendous help to county governments. By law, counties are responsible for construction and maintenance of community colleges. Without that critical infusion, counties might have to raise taxes to improve their community colleges.

Itís no overstatement to say that the bonds will mean tax relief and budget relief to counties across North Carolina.

Nor is it an overstatement to say that the improvements are badly needed.

The fact is, community colleges are overcrowded. More than 700,000 people are taking at least one course at community colleges NOW, including 150,000 full-time students. Enrollment is expected to grow another 30% over the next decade.

There are already long waiting lists for high-demand courses like computer classes. Students are being turned away, contrary to the collegesí ìopen door mission. The lack of training facilities means that some businesses have delayed expansions or taken their investments elsewhere because workers could not be trained.

The bonds will help community colleges handle this capacity overload ñ at very little cost to counties. Of the $600 million provided by the bonds, some $488 million will go to the counties with no local match required. That means almost $5 of every $6 will be ìfree and clear for counties.

Even in the 35 counties where there is a match, county governments will be getting a great deal ñ putting up far less than it will cost to upgrade facilities and expand capacity.

Bond opponents say taxes might have to be raised in some of those counties. Thatís playing fast and loose with the facts:

First, those 35 counties will receive up to $150 million in construction, repair and renovation funds without having to put up one penny of county funds.

Second, never underestimate the creativity of counties in coming up with local funds when major savings are at stake. When the reward is bond dollars that would cut construction costs in half or more ñ counties will find ways to find money without raising taxes.

Third, these funds will be allocated over six years. Counties can spread out the costs for those matches.

In truth, these bonds are the best financial package that has ever been offered to the counties in this state.

Upgrading every community college and university campus will help North Carolinians get the education, training and retraining they need to get and keep good jobs in the 21^st Century.

Passing the bonds will help fuel our strong economy. Good jobs in all regions of North Carolina will mean providing a well-trained and well-educated workforce, and providing training facilities for specific industries.

Thatís why the NC Association of County Commissioners has endorsed the community college and university bonds.

The bonds are good for North Carolina, and good for North Carolina counties. Those are the facts.

C. Ronald Aycock
Executive Director
NC Association of County Commissioners