Charlotte Trying to Muddy Up the Airport Issue

I've heard today that the news tonight is running a story that the City of Charlotte is considering building a Fire Station instead of the Airport plan.

DON'T GET FOOLED BY THIS.

The money for a Fire station will come from the taxpayers in Charlotte. They will have to vote on it and when they vote, it will probably be in the form of a bond issue asking them to pay an extra $20-$50 per $100,000 value on their property in their property taxes. This is SEPARATE from the Airport!

We were handed papers showing the costs of the feasability study. 2.5% is being paid for the STUDY by the City of Charlotte. 17.5% is being paid by MDOT and 80% is being paid for by the FAA.

Please note!!!! This is JUST for the study. How much is the study costing? Looking at percentages, you're tempted to say, 'well Charlotte is getting a good deal. They aren't paying much for the study.'

Well, think about this. Where does the City of Charlotte get their money? City taxpayers.
Where does MDOT get their money? State taxpayers.
Where does the FAA get their money? Taxpayers of the United States.

Is the study going to cost $1.00? $100,000? $1 million?

If it's $100,000, the taxpayers of the City of CHarlotte just forked out $2,500 to look at the idea of an airport. They didn't vote on it. The council decided to spend their money in this way.

MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) is paying $17,500 for their portion of JUST the study. I thought the state was in the midst of a fiscal crisis. Didn't Granholm tell us this AFTER the election? So now we know where some of our State tax dollars are going. Into "studies".

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is paying $80,000 for JUST the study. Thank God the economy is doing so well in this country. I'd hate to think they were wasting this money in bad times...but is it right that they waste this money even in good times?

Just think of the money that these three entities could have saved of the TAXPAYERS money if they had just said in 2005 to the people of the area that they were considering checking into expanding the airport. Had people known and voiced their opinion as they are now, it could have saved a tremendous amount of money.

This is what happens when governments try to do things behind the people's back. But then, there doesn't seem to be anyone in Charlotte that is willing to stand up and hold the City Council of Charlotte's feet to the fire for their waste of the people's money.