The War Memorial Auditorium Renovation

The News and Record reported yesterday on the $35 million price tag associated with the proposed renovation of the War Memorial Auditorium. David Hoggard weighs in on the difficulties in selling this proposal.

This proposal should go nowhere.  Although City Councilpersons were able to forestall a tax increase during this election year, increases likely are forthcoming.  A proposal of this magnitude to be funded through a bond issue is likely to generate further pressure for additional tax hikes.

But this proposal speaks volumes about Greensboro's current state.  This was a city that was previously awash in revenues and prosperity due to its dynamic commercial and industrial environment.  But this industrial presence is weakening, and the source of revenues is not as strong-- at least until FedEx makes its impact locally.  There is a certain grandiosity about this proposal that suggests that price is not being properly considered.

In Guilford County, we tend to spare little expense when local government is involved in constructing buildings.  The recent spurt of school construction produced impressive edifices that offer well beyond what is needed to fulfill the core educational mission; and the newspaper recently reported significant issues with cost overruns.  We tend to build a lot more than what we truly need.  This bias toward prideful extravagance is expensive.

How the proposal reflects what we are is also interesting.  A facility of the caliber envisioned is more likely to be seen in large metropolitan areas.  We sometimes forget that Greensboro is a relatively small city.  Yes, it is true that we draw to some extent from surrounding cities.  The Piedmont Triad has approximately 1.3 million people, but we need to remember that it does not function as a single market because its disparate parts are not contiguous, and are separated by  significant distances. 

David Hoggard obliquely raised some issues related to social class.  The working poor, the working class and the lower middle class will be paying taxes to fund a facility that suits the recreation of the upper middle and upper classes.  This is wrong.

A more modest facility with excellent lighting and acoustics can be built at considerably less expense.  Other facilities in town can be used or modified to perform some of the functions performed at the War Memorial Auditorium.

We need to focus on the fundamental responsibilities of local government-- police, fire, water-- and when these are satisfactory, then address the non-essentials.  Recent comments issued by City Council candidates, for instance, have expressed concern regarding police protection in certain parts of the city. 

At a time of relative austerity, as the city tries to regroup and rebuild its industrial base, we need members of City Council to expend tax dollars with the same degree of discretion they would exercise if it was their own money.   This proposal needs to be revisited at a much later date. 

Comments

[Dave Howerton]

Great post Joe. I wholeheartedly agree. The coliseum complex is a drain on the city budget. At one time, it used to actually make money. I am against spending any more money there for new upgrades. I think we should make Matt Brown and his staff more accountable for turning things around and putting those facilities in the black again. The current city council is planning to put a lot of projects (to be funded by bonds) like this on the ballot next year after this year's election. Bonds lead to increased taxes. I too believe we should concentrate on basic services.

[Joe Guarino]

Dave, thanks for your comments. If we don't keep tabs on things, there is a potential for many expensive projects to be added sequentially, and for citizens not to understand the manner in which taxation levels will be driven upward.