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The Guilford County Board of Commissioners agreed Thursday to ask voters for $457 million in school construction bonds. But in a surprising move, commissioners gave the new Eastern Guilford High School its own spot on the May 6 ballot.


Which of the 5 bond referenda approved would you support and why? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.


By splitting the $457 million bond referendum proposal into two bond packages, one referendum will ask voters if they want $45 million to reconstruct Eastern, which was destroyed by fire Nov. 1, 2006. A separate referendum will let voters choose whether they want $412 million in bonds for other school projects.


"Why didn't they just break them all down?" asked Superintendent Terry Grier of the 27 projects the $457 million bond proposal had addressed. "I think that all of it is needed."


The commissioners voted


8-3 to separate the bond for Eastern, with Kay Cashion, John Parks, and Paul Gibson voting no.


On the $412 million bond referendum, the vote was also 8-3, but Bruce Davis, Skip Alston and Steve Arnold voted no.


Had Eastern remained in the total bond package, the emotional appeal to pass the entire package might have been stronger.


"I think that was the only glue that held the $457 (million) together," Davis said.


Now, supporters of the school bond referendum must convince voters that Guilford County needs $412 million for new classrooms and renovations — but those advocates won't have the supporting argument that some of that money will go to rebuild Eastern.


What doesn't change, though, is that school supporters will have a big job to sell the bonds to the public.


"I will talk to a lot of people," said Margaret Arbukle, director of the Guilford Education Alliance. "If there are signs, I will have one in my yard."


The commissioners also chose to put at least four other referenda to voters in the May 6 election:


$114 million for a new county jail.


$79 million to GTCC campus expansion.


$20 million toward parks and recreation.


a quarter-cent sales tax that would add $15.7 million to county revenue.


If history is an indicator, the school bonds may fare well in the election.


Voters passed $300 million in school bonds in 2003 by a ratio of 2-to-1. In 2000, voters approved $200 million in school bonds.


"We are still catching up from 20 years of doing almost nothing," school board member Jeff Belton said outside the meeting Thursday.


For the school bond and the jail bond, Commissioner Skip Alston introduced two less expensive alternatives. Neither passed.


"I don't know how many people would go in and vote for all these bonds," Alston said.


In other business, the commissioners postponed a decision on an updated economic incentives proposal that would determine which businesses would receive tax rebates if they locate or expand here.


Leading up to the meeting Thursday, several commissioners said they would not approve the policy, which emphasizes attracting ecofriendly industry, high paying jobs and technology-based jobs.


Some commissioners said small business should be considered.


"Provide a sliding scale for all businesses that provide a contribution to a tax base," Davis said.


Others asked to wipe out incentives completely.


"To revise this silly economic development policy will have a negligible impact," Arnold said.


In February, the commissioners will again review the policy, which had been in committee for a year.


Commissioners also decided to fund 28 new positions at the Guilford County Detention Center after a short debate between Alston and Sheriff BJ Barnes over whether officers, cameras or intercoms would provide state-mandated safety.


The positions, which cost an additional $1.2 million per year, are more expensive than putting in cameras or an intercom system.


"What you're asking is to spend $1.2 million indefinitely, instead of $500,000 to $1 million for a one-time fix," Alston said, comparing the extra positions to the option of electronic monitoring.


Staff writer Amanda Lehmert contributed to this report.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com