Monkey Business Report: ConnectNC bond ballot language edition
The GOPe and the rest of the Raleigh cartel have just now finished their high fives and victory laps after successfully conning the people of North Carolina out of TWO BILLION DOLLARS. But, as one astute observer pointed out to us this week, there may be a particularly smelly foreign object floating in their punchbowl.
The ballot language for this year’s bond referendum was supposed to comply with Section 4 of Session Law 2013-200 (House Bill 248), which says:
“(d) The form of the question as stated on the ballot shall be in substantially the following words: “Shall the order authorizing $ _______ bonds plus interest for (briefly stating the purpose) and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?
[ ]YES [ ]NO””
What showed up on our ballots?:
The issuance of two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) State of North Carolina Public Improvement Bonds constituting general obligation bonds of the State secured by a pledge of the faith and credit and taxing power of the State for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, to fund capital improvements and new facilities for the State, including, without limitation, the construction and furnishing of new facilities and the renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities for, without limitation, the University of North Carolina System, the North Carolina Community College System, water and sewer systems, the State’s National Guard, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, attractions and parks, and the Department of Public Safety.
Notice what’s missing? Interest payments and new taxes. The ballot language we got doesn’t say anything about how the interest will be paid. If it’s not coming out of the borrowed funds, where is it coming from in the budget? Also, the language we got doesn’t rule out “additional taxes.” It just doesn’t mention it. It’s downplayed with a brief aside about the state’s “taxing power.” Though, state law clearly provides authority for additional taxes to pay for the bond.
So, it looks like the vote on ConnectNC was carried out in violation of the General Statutes — which are the supreme authority for state government in North Carolina.
This needs to be pulled back!
But, but, but…the politicians told us it would be no cost to the taxpayer. How can this be!?!?!?! How about it Jamie?
Time for a lawsuit to roll back this nonsense.
Who can we get to file the lawsuit? I’ll chip in.
And “conservatives” like Art Pope and Pat McCrory supported this abomination.
Might as well just vote for Cooper and speed NC’s transformation into the mid-Atlantic’s version of Massachusetts. It’s going to happen anyway, would just rather it happen sooner rather than later, so the smart people get out.
Serious question for Mr. Clifton. Do you actually think the bond would have been voted down at the ballot box if the language on the ballot had been different?
I am not sure that was the point. The point was, the way in which it was voted on was in violation of state statute.