KNIGHTDALE - Job creation in eastern Wake County and the rest of the Triangle is dependent upon government’s ability to build on our renowned educational systems, local and state politicians concluded last week at Knightdale Town Hall.

NC Sen. Dan Blue, NC Rep. Darren Jackson, County Commission Chairman Paul Coble, District 1 School Board rep. Chris Malone, and Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen on Dec. 1 each spoke on current issues facing their respective governments.

It was part of a televised forum hosted by the Knightdale Chamber of Commerce and attended by about 75 people.

While touting the key roles of local colleges and school districts, Blue and Jackson expressed concern over the NC General Assembly’s lack of focus on job creation and improving education.

“We need to focus on paying for higher education (and) engineering education ... unfortunately, we haven’t been doing that,” Blue, a Raleigh Democrat, said.

“Education … long term, its my belief, is what attracts people to North Carolina and Wake County,” Jackson said. “The people looking to move or expand their company want an educated workforce, but they also want to live in an area where their children can get a great education.”

Democrats have criticized Republicans in the General Assembly for cutting funding to education.

Instead, the GOP-led legislature spends time on irrelevant issues as it did when during last week’s three-day session, Jackson said.

“Changes to the Racial Justice Act ... will likely be vetoed. We debated a gas tax cap, even though we knew it wouldn’t pass. The Senate was already adjourned,” he said. “As you can see, I don’t think much of our special sessions.”

Jackson said he is also concerned the that Wake school board has relied too heavily on stimulus money which runs out this year.

Malone said he feared that the school board would be forced to make cuts for a fifth year in a row.

“Everybody here spoke about schools … I think that’s very profound,” he said. “Unfortunately, that situation is going to be a mess because we’re going to be looking at a whole lot less money.”

Malone noted that the board has previously cut its budget while not directly affecting the classroom, and that the “atmosphere” on the school board has improved since Superintendent Tony Tata’s hiring.

Also, Malone said he thinks the conversion to a new student assignment policy will “work out,” despite the recent election of a new Democratic school board majority.

Good news for Wake

Coble, the chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners said Wake County will continue to grow so long as it maintains good schools, low taxes, and keeps the public safe.

“I think we’re doing those things in Wake County and each of our towns … the good news is that people are attracted to Wake County,” Coble said, noting that the county has maintained the current property tax rate for several years. To boost the county’s financial standing and help the school board focus on school-related issues, Coble suggested that county government take over the building of local schools.

“Why would we elect them to educate our children, then send them in to spend a million dollars ... let us deal with the minutiae of (school) construction,” he said, noting that the county already pays for the schools.

Coble added: “The county has a AAA credit rating. We carry the debt (from paying for new schools), while the schools carry the assets. (County government) would be even stronger if we had those assets on our books.”

The next spot for jobs

Killen, meanwhile, said that Knightdale will be the county’s “next spot” for job creation and residential construction.

“Folks around here will tell you that,” he said. “Our community has available land, roads, and infrastructure: Parks, programs, and greenways all make this a place people want to come.”

Killen said the addition of an amphitheater, YMCA, and other attractions in the park will draw more business to a now-ragged downtown.