Mayor Meeker a Schools Convert?

It looks like our crusade to get the Raleigh City Council focused on schools is making progress.



In his annual State of the City address this week, Mayor Charles Meeker laid out three goals for 2006: reduce fuel consumption, fight homelessness and – according to The News & Observer – “push Wake County to solve its school-crowding crisis.”


Click here to read the story.


It says:



Meeker said he realizes Raleigh government has no control over schools, but he felt the need to urge action.


It will take roughly $1.2 billion to renovate schools, move students out of trailers and handle the 12,000 new students estimated for the next two years.


Wake County’s tax base will increase enough that $400,000 to $500,000 can be committed now without a tax increase.


The rest of the money, Meeker said, should be left to voters to decide on this fall’s ballot.


“We’re behind,” he said. “We’ve been behind now for a couple of years. … I have confidence this community, as it always has done before, can solve our problem.”


That’s not much. But it may be a start. Maybe he’ll now join the outnumbered Council members who want the City to debate this issue.

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Gary Pearce

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Mayor Meeker a Schools Convert?

It looks like our crusade to get the Raleigh City Council focused on schools is making progress.



In his annual State of the City address this week, Mayor Charles Meeker laid out three goals for 2006: reduce fuel consumption, fight homelessness and – according to The News & Observer – “push Wake County to solve its school-crowding crisis.”


Click here to read the story.


It says:



Meeker said he realizes Raleigh government has no control over schools, but he felt the need to urge action.


It will take roughly $1.2 billion to renovate schools, move students out of trailers and handle the 12,000 new students estimated for the next two years.


Wake County’s tax base will increase enough that $400,000 to $500,000 can be committed now without a tax increase.


The rest of the money, Meeker said, should be left to voters to decide on this fall’s ballot.


“We’re behind,” he said. “We’ve been behind now for a couple of years. … I have confidence this community, as it always has done before, can solve our problem.”


That’s not much. But it may be a start. Maybe he’ll now join the outnumbered Council members who want the City to debate this issue.

Posted in ,
Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Categories

Archives