I noted with interest that the Rhino supported the $20 million bond for Greensboro Natural Science Center:

To the best of our knowledge, The Rhino Times has never endorsed a bond, and as a rule we are opposed to increasing government spending. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and the Greensboro Natural Science Center is that exception. We wholeheartedly endorse the $20 million Natural Science Center bond because the Natural Science Center does more with the tax dollars it receives than anyone else.

The Natural Science Center, with the money it has received, has become an astounding facility. The plans for the $20 million are going to make it the first-of-its-kind facility in the state.

…..It is a fantastic facility that is rapidly becoming one of the most popular school field trip sites in the state, and had over 278,000 visitors last year.

The City Council certainly does not have to raise taxes to pay for the bonds, and we are not in favor of raising taxes to pay for the bonds. The other option is to reduce spending. The city staff theoretically cut $7.5 million from the proposed budget last year and nobody noticed. It can certainly cut enough to cover the payments on a $20 million bond without raising anyone’s taxes, and the money can’t be better spent than it will be at the Natural Science Center.

Ironically enough, my little one went on a field trip to the Natural Science Center just yesterday, and I thought how nice it would be to have a top-notch facility as a field-trip destination for little ones region-wide. But when government goes into debt to do what it’s supposed to do anyway—- build schools and roads, dispose of waste efficiently, etc., it makes it difficult for voters to support bonds for amenities like the Natural Science Center. And if that bond passes, then it will only be a matter of time before a bond for the Greensboro Children’s Museum goes on the ballot.

The Rhino knows as well as anyone that the city won’t reduce spending without some serious change on the City Council. So go vote.

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