AGENDA# 4a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Town Council Members

FROM:              Mayor Waldorf and Council Member Ward

SUBJECT:            Resolution Supporting Higher Education Bonds

DATE:             October 11, 2000

The November 2000 ballot will include a referendum on a $3.1-billion bond package that would assist the State’s growing university and community college system.  We ask that the Council consider adoption of the attached resolution in support of the bond referendum.

ATTACHMENTS

  1. UNC-Chapel Hill Portion of the Bond Package (From University Web Site) (p. 3).
  2. University and  Community College Bonds: Frequently Asked Questions (p. 6).

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HIGHER EDUCATION BONDS TO ASSIST NORTH CAROLINA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN MEETING THEIR FACILITY NEEDS AND ACCOMMODATING THEIR STUDENTS (2000-10-11/R-3)

WHEREAS, higher education has historically played a tremendous role in building the State of North Carolina into the thriving economic, cultural, and social leader that it is today; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina’s community colleges and universities allow citizens of this State to learn the skills necessary to compete in today’s and tomorrow’s competitive economy; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina’s systems of higher education are acclaimed as being among the best in the country; and

WHEREAS, in the next decade, our community colleges expect more than 57,000 new students to enroll, and our universities expect more than 48,000 to enroll; and

WHEREAS, our higher education campuses must upgrade and construct academic, residential, and administrative facilities, including critical laboratory and classroom space, to accommodate the growing numbers of students; and

WHEREAS, the $3.1 billion bond package approved by the General Assembly will assist our community colleges and universities in meeting their significant facility needs; and

WHEREAS, the bonds are subject to voter approval on the November 2000 ballot and deserve rightful consideration by the citizens of this State.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill strongly supports the higher education bond proposal because it will enable our systems of higher education to better educate tomorrow’s students and maintain North Carolina’s place as the national leader in higher education learning and training;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill pledges to work to educate and inform the citizens of our State about the importance of the bonds in improving our community colleges and universities, and pledges to encourage voters to approve the bonds this November.

This the 11th day of October, 2000.