Not enough that High Point Mayor Bill Bencini is trying to strong arm the Guilford County Commissioners into signing off a tax increment financing deal for the proposed downtown baseball stadium–now High Point University president Nido Qubein says no stadium deal, no $38 million in private funds– which Qubein is in charge of raising:
In an interview, Qubein put the onus squarely on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners for bringing the stadium deal to fruition. Some commissioners have resisted the city’s financing plan for the facility, which calls for the county to divert its share of new property tax revenue for 20 years in a 649-acre area downtown to help pay for the city’s stadium debt.
“I make absolutely no reservations in saying that, if the commissioners don’t approve the request from the city, and therefore the city of High Point cannot build this stadium, then everything I’ve talked about will evaporate, and we’re back to ground zero,” he said. “That would be a sad day for the Home Furnishings Capital of the World.”
….“I am disappointed in the commissioners so far. While they have not said no, they have not shown enthusiasm. If that lack of enthusiasm leads to a lack of support, then I think the citizens of High Point need to take notice that we don’t get priority attention when we most desperately need it,” he said. “The city of High Point needs a shot in the arm, and this is the best idea that, collectively, we have come up with. And, by golly, if somebody has a better idea, let them come forward with it. But just standing outside the circle trying to criticize what’s on the inside of the circle doesn’t get us anywhere.”
It’s Qubein’s world–we only live in it–but Bencini’s tactics are surprising, considering he was a county commissioner for several years and should know that this board is –as Commissioner Hank Henning put it–that this group is “just the type of board that, if we’re going to commit to a 20-year agreement, we’re going to ask questions.”
Commissioners should keep asking questions and if they don’t get the answers they want, then call High Point’s bluff. Believe you me Bencini and Qubein are talking awful tough considering the cards they’re holding.
