How would you go about getting a bond issue passed in your community?

Question

I'm looking into getting a bond issue passed to improve some of the buildings in the school district in which I work. What public relations techniques would you suggest to help me with this? Unfortunately, I'm not a PR person, but our students need this. Our buildings were built in the 60s and have not been changed or helped since. We need this bond issue, but the community is not very involved in the schools. How can I get the community's attention and get this issue passed? Thank you.

Answer 1

First of all, you need a lot of patience. Getting wide-based support for an issue that does not directly impact every taxpayer is a difficult process. Identify who will help your progress -- students, parents, teachers -- and who may hinder it -- single voters, empty nesters, seniors. Quietly build a base of support from your primary supporters. Research the issue. Take photos of the way the schools currently look. Compare your facilities to those in surrounding and similar size towns. Put down on paper WHY improved facilities will better the community. Last but not least, get someone on your committee to work with the Superintendent and put actual cost figures on paper. Once you have all your facts and figures, go around to town officials who are in charge of the piggy bank issues. Some areas have mayors and city councils while others have selectmen and an open Town Meeting government. You'll need to have a list of movers and shakers. About this time, you can also go to the press -- newspapers, radio stations, community access TV -- and talk about what you're doing. Above all else, remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. I worked on a community issue that was near and dear to my heart. It took eight years to come to a successful conclusion and only after I withstood the slings and arrows of failures at three town meetings. My effort was tremendously satisfying in the end and has already made my community a better place. I wish you the best in your effort.

Answer 2

First find out who has the authority to issue school bonds where you are. School Board? County? Somebody else? Also find out if the schools have any bonding authority left. If they've issued all the bonds they can, then you have to wait until the debt falls to a point where more bonds may be issued.

Also, make sure you understand what you are legally allowed to do regarding campaigning. In many places the most an employee or school can do is present facts - they can't advocate one way or another.

Second, find a champion or two. Preferably a prominent business person. An elected official will do, but most elected officials prefer to follow the lead of the business community.

Draw your bond issue carefully. You're more likely to get it passed if folks know exactly what they're getting. How many school buildings, what renovations, what equipment purchases. It will probably be best if you can spread the money around as much as possible so everyone gets something. You might also want to include some kind of independent oversight to help make sure the bond money gets spent the way you say it will.

Then, try to get the bond election scheduled for an off time, all by itself. For these kinds of things, the fewer folks that turn out the better. Lots of bond referendums pass when only 10% of the electorate turns out because the election is on a Tuesday in July when everyone is on vacation. You don't want it scheduled with a presidential, gubernatorial, or other major election when there will be lots of turnout.

Once you've done the background work and have a solid program, then you do your outreach. Your champion helps reach out to other leaders in the community. You'll need a committee of community leaders. After that, it's good old fashioned leg work. A web site and brochures outlining what the bond will bring. How much it will raise taxes. If seniors are exempt from the taxation (typically some kind of property tax.)

Phone calls, door knocking, etc. Contact the local papers and radio stations. Talk to the reporters, but also to the editorial board, if there is one, at the papers. If not, the editor or whoever writes the editorials.

Before the election, make sure you register everyone you can before the deadline. Then make sure you get absentee ballots out to as many folks as you can - Senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other people who have difficulties getting to the polls and folks who will be out of town on election day.

On election day get the vote out. Call everyone. Make sure everyone can get to the polls. Run carpools. Have people and signs at all the polling places - the legal distance away from the door.

If you can afford it, raise the money and run ads on local cable television and on the radio stations people listen to when they're driving to and from work.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Passing the bonds NOW will recommend yet another college LATER. It takes countless years to purchase land/plan the schooll/construct the college/supply the college. via the time that's waiting for college scholars, the inhabitants of your district will probable have bigger very much. If the bonds are no longer surpassed, then the babies in common college NOW would be sitting in a single yet another's laps and strolling down the corridor elbow to elbow.

Answer 4

Face to face is best, you can go door to door.

Or go to the local mall.

give out flyer's and talk to people about your plight.