What’s next for the new year? [Times-News, Burlington, N.C.]
By Madison Taylor, Times-News, Burlington, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
For those who love politics, 2012 will be their year.
What's on the ballots this year? Almost anything and everything. People in
The fun is well under way. Republican presidential hopefuls have already debated nearly a dozen times and the Iowa Caucuses are still a couple days off. And it's a foregone conclusion that the race for governor will boil down to a rematch of 2008 between incumbent Gov.
But there are key questions ahead:
1. Will
2. Who's going to run for the
3. What will
4. Will the
5. Will Democrats find a candidate to face
The answers to these questions will unfold over the next few months. The filing period starts in February. Primaries are scheduled in May and the big shootin' match will go off in November.
And for those who hate politics, this might be the year to take that long-awaited trip to
We may join you.
The economy
Nearly 20 years ago a famous political operative coined the phrase, "It's the economy, stupid" to ensure that then-presidential candidate
Welcome to 1992, redux.
The economy is still stagnant.
"Incentives ... the game keeps changing," said Burlington City Manager
Officials in the city and county agree that luring jobs to
Expect to hear a lot more about incentives this year, and in figures that sound more like Monopoly money than real taxpayer money.
In addition, Burlington Mayor
A new superintendent in town
When outgoing interim school superintendent
He also left a word of warning: The money situation would grow even more serious the following year.
Little has changed to offset Burns' prediction. When Cox starts to put together her first budget for the
On the plus side, the school system has a formidable fund balance at its disposal -- unless County Commissioner
Still, this could be the year when the rainy day fund truly plugs a lot of holes in the ABSS budget. Don't look for commissioners to raise taxes in an election year to offset school funding deficits.
Matters of health
A year ago we speculated that the county hospital would undergo some changes as a result of the national health care reform plan voted in by
Now, the early part of 2012 will be spent putting the partnership into place, which is expected to be complete by the spring.
Expect a busy year at ARMC.
Money, money, money
And there's still not much of it to go around.
Yes, money topped the list a year ago and it could easily do so again. Local government budgets are still strapped (see previous reference to the
"I think you'll see a leaner budget, a tighter budget and a more efficient budget," said Sutton in reference to county spending.
While Sutton is sure performance-based budgeting is part of the solution, cuts and furloughs may still be unavoidable. Revenue improved in the last quarter of 2011, but whether that momentum will carry over to 2012 is another story. Put it this way, the Amazing Kreskin in his prime couldn't accurately predict what'll happen in this economy. Remember, cash doesn't flow out of
The county
Burlington's big momentum downtown
For the first time in what seems to be decades, Burlington's downtown appears viable. More than a dozen new businesses opened there in 2011, including a cornerstone co-op that has proven to be a drawing card. It's an area brimming with consignment shops, art venues and even a tavern or two.
Now, can the city keep the momentum going in a site that has been historically difficult to develop?
Wall said to expect more public-private projects to spring forward in 2012. Plans are in the works for apartment-style housing. A contest is now under way that could lead to a new restaurant at one of three locations for a business owner with a winning plan. The latter will be announced in the spring.
Meanwhile, how to solve a parking problem downtown will continue to be a source of discussion, as will the future of the old May Hosiery building.
And Wall said to add this item to his wish list: "A new baseball stadium downtown."
Play ball!
The DOJ vs. the sheriff
It seems like the imbroglio between Sheriff
The bad news is, there seems to be no end in sight.
Once again, expect the legal wrangling between county attorney
Both sides claim the other is horribly misinformed, foot-dragging or flat wrong. Such claims can only be answered through the court -- a lengthy, cumbersome and expensive process.
While immigration reform is likely to become a national campaign issue, the questions raised in
Hitchin' a ride
Has there been a planning session held over the last decade in which public transportation hasn't been discussed? It's hard to think of one.
Chances are, it'll come up again.
Burlington is the largest metropolitan area in the state that doesn't have public transportation. The problem has been one of affordability and viability. Attempts to create transportation options for the elderly and those without jobs have been largely unsuccessful.
Stay tuned.
See you in court
The biggest trial of the new year promises to be the capital murder case in which three men -- including a stepson -- are charged in the 2007 Christmas season slaying of retired bank employee
It took more than a year for authorities to bring charges in the case. Dixon's stepson,
The case was further complicated when one of the leading prosecutors on the Dixon team was suspended in December for 30 days because of a statement he made while prosecuting another case. District Attorney
Leadership
"I want our leaders to be leaders."
That was how
Leadership, or rather a shortage of it, was a primary topic of conversation that day when it came to topics such as education spending, investing in infrastructure or funneling money into business incentives. Nadelman called upon area elected leaders to make tough decisions when it comes to improving education in our community, even if it might mean a tax increase.
The issue will certainly come up this year.
The college, for example, is looking for construction money for new classrooms at ACC in order to meet the demand set by growing student enrollment sparked by the poor economy. A proposed bond referendum was delayed last year because of concerns over a tax increase in the current economic climate. Trustees didn't push it, commissioners weren't interested in it.
Expect the idea of a referendum to be broached again in 2012.
It might turn out to be one more thing to vote on in November.
See you at the polls.
___
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