According to state law, elected bodies may not advocate for bond issues. Individual members may express opinions, but the body may only inform the public about how the money will be spent. Therefore, the City of Hendersonville sent out water bills with a color banner ad stating a proposed 3-cent bond would go toward a new park that would be:
a nice, safe place to talk, ride bikes, take dogs, play ball … or enjoy the scenery.
Was this promotion? After all, a vast majority likes it when their children play ball in dangerous places, and another supermajority despises enjoyable scenery. City staff is taking the blame to appease those who still assume humans are attracted to desirable amenities. Whether they were authorized by council is a matter of opinion. They also sent out postcards directing people to a special web site.
On the flip-side, the web site posts great information people should know about bonds, such as what the city currently pays in debt service, when and by how much taxes will increase to cover the new debt, how that compares to the overall budget, and what other projects the city has funded with bonds. It also tells how citizens may indirectly buy the bonds.
