Big honking surprise.

Mecklenburg County really has no choice — it refused to live within its means for decade, refuses to downsize sufficiently now. The state delegation is screaming at the county to use all the “tools” it has — like a quarter-cent hike in the general purpose sales tax. Raleigh can’t create magic money anymore, Uncle Sucker is about tapped out.

Jennifer Roberts and crew really do not want to go this route — not in an election year, so it will be interesting to see if it comes to a formal vote and how it fares.

In any event, prepare for the most outlandish set of bald-faced lies you have ever heard in your life.