The Journal takes a closer look at the Winston-Salem City Council’s unanimous vote bail out Goler Community Development Corp.’s plans for a key three-acre tract of land close to downtown.
Deputy City Manager Derwick Paige attempts to explain the expense to taxpayers:
Paige said that city officials also considered the land purchase a one-time expense, as opposed to a person’s salary, which is paid year after year.
“Folks don’t understand a lot of times, if you pay a salary, that’s an ongoing expense,” Paige said. “You can’t use a one-time source of money to pay an on-going expense…. And folks say, ‘Why can’t you use that for garbage pickup or why can’t you use that for more police?’ Because it’s not an ongoing source.”
That should make them feel better.