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Most Commonly Missed Statements on Quiz
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Since we posted the Fact or Fiction -- The Straight Story online last Monday, more than 5,000 people have taken the quiz. From the beginning, quiz-takers have gotten approximately one in three questions wrong. Here are the top three most commonly missed statements (in order), along with the back-up info.
1) Instead of raising property taxes, the Board of Education should implement impact fees so that developers help pay for growth.
False! First, the school board does not have taxing authority. County commissioners determine whether to raise property taxes. Second, at this time, neither board has the ability to levy impact fees (or transfer fees for that matter); it would require legislative approval to do so.
The Board of Education is charged with determining school needs and the Board of Commissioners is charged with funding those needs. However, in light of the tremendous, continued growth in Wake County, the school board recognizes the need for multiple funding sources to pay for that growth and is drafting a resolution in support of impact fees.
2.) WCPSS's construction costs are higher than most other N.C. districts.
False! WCPSS bid day building costs for new schools have been below the average Department of Public Instruction cost per square foot for each of the last five years. If other counties' school construction costs seem lower, often times it's because it isn't an apples to apples comparison. Before comparing counties' school construction costs, find out what's included in the amount.
Based on data from DPI's website dated 3/17/06, WCPSS spent approximately $121/square foot and the average N.C. school district spent $126/square foot for the building portion of new school construction in 2005.
3.) The Wake County school system hasn't spent all the money from the last bond yet.
True! As far as the school system's current building program, WCPSS has built five of the 11 new schools included in PLAN 2004, with the remaining six to open in the 2007-08 school year. Work is paid for as it is completed.
WCPSS will be coming out with a new set of questions for Fact or Fiction soon.
For more information on the building program, please visit the Blueprint for Excellence 2006 online resource center.
Posted by Kristin Flenniken at 01:43 PM on October 10, 2006 | Leave Feedback
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