The future of the streetcar in Charlotte depends on the city's ability to get more federal funding, says City Manager Ron Carlee. To be precise, Carlee proposes Charlotte pursue a grant for half the $126 million price tag to undertake the next 2.5 mile stretch of streetcar extending to the east and west of Uptown.
The city council's reaction to the proposal was tepid.
Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson thanks the Charlotte City Council for committing tax dollars to renovate the stadium at a final meeting approving the deal on April 22, 2013.
Most of the Charlotte City Council's debate and deliberations about spending tax dollars on a renovation of Panthers' Stadium happened behind closed doors. That's pretty common when a city is hashing out economic incentives. But this case stands out because the Panthers were given unprecedented access to the council's process.
The effort to turn the Charlotte airport over to an independent authority has more momentum now that a city-funded study recommends that action. City leaders who commissioned the $150,000 report still urge caution - an idea that elicits laughter from the chief sponsor of legislation to change the airport’s management structure.
The Charlotte City Council learned Wednesday the price of its inaction on a capital investment plan. What they could have done last year by increasing the property tax rate 3.6 cents will now require an increase of more than 4 cents – and that doesn't even include the controversial streetcar.
