County Board on Bonds: Take-It or-Leave-It?
In an online article at the Arlington Sun Gazette today, Scott McCaffrey reports the Arlington County Board’s approach to the bond issues that will be on the November 2010 ballot is a ‘Trust Us' approach, and it’s raising the “ire of critics.” McCaffrey writes:
“Is it a smart approach to meeting future needs, or a multi-million-dollar slush fund?
“That’s the question surrounding $4.7 million that is part of an $18 million local bond referendum going to voters Nov. 2.
“Half of that $18 million is slated for Neighborhood Conservation projects, $2.7 million is designated for facilities maintenance and roughly $1.7 million is slated for land acquisition. But the remainder - given the only-a-bureaucrat-can-love-it title of “Emerging Facility Infrastructure Requirements” - is causing a bit of political uproar.
“The Arlington County Republican Committee’s research and resolutions committee said it was “greatly troubled” by the request for millions of dollars in funding for unspecified projects. Republicans voted to oppose this bond, as they did with two of the other three on the ballot.
“But the county leadership says there is no intent to deceive, merely a desire to keep options open.
[ . . . . ]
“Republicans were also critical of throwing $9 million in capital spending in with the $9 million for Neighborhood Conservation, all in a single bond. It gives voters a take-it-or-leave-it choice, suggested Wayne Kubicki, who heads the GOP’s research/resolutions committee.”
Sheesh!