Constitutional Amendment
$ 740 Million In Bonds On Ballot
In statewide questions on the Nov. 2 ballot voters
will be asked to decide separately on five issues totalling
$740 million in general obligation bonds and to decide
on a state constitutional amendment which would let lo
cal governments undertake economic development bond
financing without holding referendums.
Here is a brief synopsis of the issues in the order they
will appear on the ballot.
? FOR or AGAINST a Constitutional Amend
ment to enact general laws permitting issuance of
bonds without a referendum to finance public pro
jects associated with private industrial and commer
cial economic development projects, with the bonds
to be secured in whole or in part by the additional
revenues from taxes levied on the incremental value
of the property in the territorial area.
Proponents of the amendment, chief among them the
N.C. League of Municipalities, say economic develop
ment financing would be another tool ItKal governments
could use to recruit new industries or expand existing
ones.
"This type of bond would be an appropriate Way to fi
nance improvements directly related to a particular pro
ject." a league pamphlet stales. "The local government
would use tax revenues from a new or expanded busi
ness to pay for infrastructure improvements that particu
lar industry needs. The entire community would benefit
from the new jobs created."
The league savs "this financing method would require
less lime lhan a referendum, which might require up to a
year's time to hold. Finally, when the debt is paid off, all
of the increased tax revenues go to the municipality's
general fund."
Opponents, like N.C. Taxpayers United and United
We Stand America, say the amendment would permit
taxation without representation.
NCTU says citizens should maintain their control on
approving local bond packages. It also says local gov
ernment officials might abuse their new authority.
"The General Assembly has refused to allow the peo
ple to vote on constitutional amendments for the veto,
term limits, or to require voter approval of tax increases,
measures that would limit the power of government over
politicians." said NCTU Advisory Board Member Art
Pope of Raleigh. "Now the General Assembly puts a
constitutional amendment on the ballot to increase the
power of government by allowing local governments to
increase their debt by issuing bonds without the ap
proval of voters."
The Bonds
l^ess controversial are the $740 million in bonds that
proponents, like N.C. Senate President Pro Tem Marc
Basnight. say address a backlog of vital statewide needs
while interest rates are at their lowest in 15 years and the
state's debt burden is at a 10-year low.
Basnight also says the bond will stimulate the state's
economy, solidify the state's AAA bond rating and lead
to a better allocation of tax dollars.
"By having future users of capital projects share in
the financing costs, needed projects can tie completed
far sooner than would he the case if sufficiently current
revenues had to he accumulated," he said.
The proposals include:
? $310 million in bonds for IJNC System improve
ments. Each of the 16 campuses would have its top cap
ital improvements priority addressed by the bonds. In
addition, there is funding for Area Health Education
Centers across the state, facility improvements for pub
lic television, and a facility for the N.C. of Science and
Mathematics. Another SI 2 million would be available
for "other critical needs" to be identified by the UNC
Board of Governors
Backers of this bond say there has been little money
available for capital construction and that the projects
are needed to keep up with enrollment growth and to
compete technologically with other institutions.
? $250 million in community college bonds. Each
community college would receive funds, including S4
million for an allied health building at Brunswick
Community College. (See story, Page 1-A.)
"The community colleges have experienced rapid en
rollment growth as citizens throughout the state turn
back to local colleges for new skills and retraining," a
N.C. General Assembly press kit states. "The communi
ty colleges are a key link to North Carolina's economic
future by (raining a workforce capable to compete in
world markets."
? $145 million in bonds whose proceeds will be
used for grants, loans and revolving loans to local
government units for water supply systems, waste
water collection systems, wastewater treatment
works and water conservation projects.
The state will set aside SKH) million to loan to local
governments for water and sewer capital projects ? pass
through. one-time loans at the state's lower interest rate.
The local governments' loan payments will pay off the
state bonds.
The remaining $45 million will go into the state's
Clean Water Revolving Loan and Grant Fund for lower
interest loans and grants to the neediest towns or coun
ties. After initial loans are repaid to the revolving fund,
the money will be loaned out again.
? $35 million in state parks bonds for repairs, ren
ovations, new construction and land acquisition and
new and existing state parks. Land acquisition is limit
ed to 30 percent of the amount of the bonds issues.
North Carolina currently ranks 49th of the 50 states in
per capita spending on its state parks. "From Mount
Mitchell to Carolina Beach, our state has natural parks
as varied and beautiful as any in the nation," says Dan
Besse, chair of the State Parks Bond Referendum
Committee. "Unfortunately, our parks are badly threat
ened by the decay ? or even absence ? of adequate facil
ities for public use of the parks."
OIB Candidates Say
Orderly Growth Is
Campaign Priority
Controlled growth ;ind under
ground utilities are priorities for
candidates at Ocean Isle Beach,
where Mayor Betty Williamson is
unopposed in seeking another term.
Incumbents Terry Barbee and
Mayor Pro Tern Bill Benton face a
challenge by Planing Board Member
Ken Proctor for two seats on the
board of commissioners.
Barbee did not respond to the
Beacon questionnaire.
Williamson
Betty S. Williamson has been
mayor since
1987. and was a
town commis
sioner from
1980 to 1987.
She is self
employed in the
real estate busi
ness. A graduate
of Whiteville
High School.
WILLIAMSON she attended
Southeastern Community College.
Williamson serves on the boards
of Camp United Methodist Church,
the Brunswick Island Board of Real
tors. United Carolina Bank, the
Museum of Coastal Carolina, the
Ocean Isle Property Owners Assoc
iation and the Ocean Isle Beach
Chapel.
"I would like for Ocean Isle
Beach to have controlled growth in
order to preserve our island and con
tinue properly appreciation." she
said. "I will work toward keeping
our tax rate as low as possible and
still provide our necessary services.
Through proper planning and zon
ing. our property values will be
maintained and our beautiful beach
will keep the low-key family-orient
ed atmosphere we try so hard to pre
serve."
She lists as key issues continuing
the underground utilities and side
walk-building projects and estab
lishing a long-term erosion control
plan.
Benton
Benton has served as commis
sioner from 1980-83, 1986-89 and
1990 to the present. He is general
manager of Lockwood Golf Links.
He attended N.C. State University
and Kings Business College and has
a degree in accounting.
A past president of the South
Brunswick Islands Chamber of
Commerce, he serves on the board
missioner. and Hv
during this time
our present wa- m
ter system, sew- BENTON
er system, cable television, side
walks and other projects maintaining
a low tax rate," he said. "I want to
be involved with orderly growth."
Benton lists as priority issues re
ducing the sewer rate, continuing to
have a fine police department,
speeding up underground wiring and
maintaining the canals and inlet.
"1 enjoy making myself available
to the people of Ocean Isle." he said.
Proctor
Ken Proctor, a first-time office
seeker. is manager for Carbide
Alloys Inc. He holds degrees from
N.C. State Uni
versity and the
m \ University of
M South Alabama
?"*> ??? in engineering
\ . >- and metallurgy
and has served
Before mov
/ ing to Ocean
PROCTOR |s|e Beach sev
en years ago. Proctor served on the
Western Piedmont Council of Gov
ernments, Alexander County Plan
ning Council and Alexander County
Challenge Commission.
He currently is on the board of di
rectors of the Museum of Coastal
Carolina and the Ocean Isle Beach
Property Owners Association. He
was appointed to the Ocean Isle
Beach Planning Board in 1992.
"As I have met and talked to
many residents since making my de
cision to run, the paramount concern
has been the unknown growth of our
town," Proctor said. "Growth must
and will come, but it must also be
orderly."
His priorities include holding the
current tax rate and continuing town
services and getting more residents
involved in the municipal govern
ment process.
Say 'I Saw It (n The Beacon*
We Salute Don's Plumbing '
In Calabash
We're proud to have provided paving services for your parking lot.
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Helping Brunswick County Grow!
Grading And
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754-7177
Asphalt Plant-2 miles north of Shallotte on Hwy. 17
staff photo by eric cahison
Guys And Gulls
Whether you dress in feathers or flannel, fall fishing is a favorite pastime on the South Brunswick Islands. These anglers enjoyed a quiet
sunrise together on Holden Beach last week.
Voter Stats Reflect Changing Brunswick County
BY SUSAN USHER
A voter in Brunswick County
next Tuesday is more likely than
ever before to he a white female Re
publican, based on the latest Bruns
wick County Board of Elections vot
er registration data.
When registration books closed
this month, the number of people el
igible to vote in Brunswick County
had increased by 1,060 over the past
18 months to 30.981, a gain of 2.8
percent.
According to Lynda Britt, super
visor of elections, the largest single
source of new registrations are new
comers to the county who are regis
tering to vote when they obtain their
new driver's licenses from the
Department of Motor Vehicles.
That concurs with findings of the
1990 census, in which 28.6 percent
of county residents indicated they
had lived outside the county in
1985.
Democrats still outnumber Re
publicans in the county 1.6 to 1, but
the margin is growing slimmer. In
October 1988 the county had 18.046
Democrats, compared to 17,691 in
United Way Campaign Nears Home
Stretch In Brunswick; $7,000 Raised
More than halfway Ihrough Cape
Fear United Way's 1993 campaign,
it's still too early to assess how the
effort is going in Brunswick County
as pledges begin coming in.
"Overall, we're getting into the
home stretch," said Brad Bruestle,
the UCB executive in charge of the
countywide local business campaign
out to raise $50,000 in pledges and
contributions. "Efforts are still at a
high level."
"We're getting a pretty good re
sponse from our people, but it could
be a little better."
Bruestle 's area teams are making
a special effort this year to involve
businesses that have not participated
before in the campaign, in addition
to regulars.
The local business campaign thus
far has brought $7,000 in contribu
tions and pledges, or about 14 per
cent of goal, according to Michael
Griggs, executive director of the
three-county agency.
That doesn't include major busi
nesses and industries such as Exide,
CP&L, DuPont, Atlantic Telephone
Membership, Brunswick County
Government, Brunswick County
Schools, Victaulic, The Brunswick
Hospital, Dosher Memorial Hos
pital, and others with employee
campaigns in progress. It also does
not include the individual solicita
tions handled through mailings from
Griggs' office.
United Way raises money to sup
port health and human service agen
cies in Brunswick, New Hanover
and Pender counties, including those
involved in scouting, literacy, sup
porting victims of domestic vio
lence, serving senior citizens, the
handicapped, children, the homeless
and others.
April 1992 and 17,041 in Octobcr
1993.
Republican registrations are mov
ing steadily upward, from 9,267 in
October 1988 to 10,783 in April
1992 to 11,041 in October 1992.
Also showing gains are Liberta
rians, 12 strong now, and unaffiliat
ed voters, 2,170 compared to 1,033
in 1988.
Brunswick County now has
14,528 men registered as voters and
16,453 women. That's the equiva
lent of 113 female voters for every
100 male voters.
While the overall number of reg
istered voters continues to increase
in the county, black voters continue
to lose ground.
In April 1992, 4,697 were regis
tered to vote. Now only 4,525 are
registered ? 1 black voter for every
5.8 white voters.
Holden Beach Voters
ELECT
IDwight Carroll
All Sunset Beach Voters
are invited to
Meet The Candidates
for Mayor and
Town Council
Thursday ; Oct 28 at 7 p.m.
at Seaside Methodist Church
on Hivy. 904
Sponsored by the
Sunset Beach Taxpayers Association
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