September 2004

Guest Post by Anita Badrock

Amendment One is on the ballot for consideration by NC Voters. It allows local municipalities to issue "self financing bonds" (also known as TIF's--"tax incremental funding") without taxpayer approval. NC is one of only two states that does not currently allow this type of bond to be issued. The amendment has created some unlikely local allies---those in favor of the amendment include Mayor Foy and the Town Council, former Republican governor Jim Martin, former Democratic governor Jim Hunt, and the local Chambers of Commerce. Those opposed include the conservative John Locke Society, the Common Sense Foundation, the Libertarian Party of NC, and our own Dan Coleman.

If Amendment One passes, local governments would be allowed to create special development districts, then issue bonds without voter approval to pay for improvements in these districts — such as streets, water and sewer service and sidewalks — to attract developers.

Guest Post by Ellie Kinnaird

"Export the qualities of McCorkle and Polk Places, the low stone walls, brick walks, and natural landscaping of McCorkle and Polk Places are the physical essence of Carolina [and] extending their graceful balance of buildings, open spaces and trees to developing areas of campus will improve the University." That's the recommendation of the Master Plan for UNC's North Campus. What happened to that goal? It has been abandoned and our older buildings on north campus, including the unique and graceful West House, are being sacrificed for a parking deck.