Continuing with the Meck Deck candidate survey of at-large GOP Charlotte city council candidates:
1. What is the greatest challenge facing Charlotte today?
Lassiter: We must preserve the quality of life and affordability that has made this city attractive for job creation and business investment. Our task includes a strong focus on public safety, investing in needed infrastructure and encouraging economic development throughout all of Charlotte.
2. Which is your higher priority — Making Charlotte a great place to live or making Charlotte a great place to visit?
Lassiter: Our first priority will always be to the citizens of Charlotte. Keeping our city safe, affordable and a great place to raise a family and start a business is the highest priority. Charlotte is also the top tourist attraction in the state and visitors, through sales and hospitality taxes, help reduce the pressure on our property tax rate.
3. Do you support or oppose the repeal of half-cent transit tax for transit?
Lassiter: I am committed to a comprehensive transportation plan that includes roads, buses and mass transit. A critical component in funding those efforts is the ½ sales tax. Repeal would jeopardize not only transportation options but would affect the entire city budget due to construction debt and possible reimbursement of federal and state funding.
4. Identify at least one segment/department/fund of city government that might be a candidate for cost savings.
Lassiter: As part of the Republican minority that opposed the 9% tax increase passed by council in 2006, we identified several opportunities for cost savings without affecting service levels including staff reductions in the Small Business Enterprise program, Neighborhood Development and Employee Training and Travel. Our proposed budget would have provided 32 new police officers, increased the road resurfacing budget, added a new fire station and increased code enforcement without a tax increase.
5. Given the new change in state law allowing tax increment financing to be used to build schools and parks, do you support exploring interlocal agreements which might be used to help build schools/parks in the city?
Lassiter: Though school and park construction are a county responsibility, they are critical components of the quality of life that is important to folks in our city as well as businesses considering expansion or relocation. With the increasing costs of construction and the diminishing available land, we should look at a wide variety of interlocal cooperation and financing options.
Thanks to Councilman Lassiter for his response. Next up will be David Romero. Jerry Mudge’s response can be found here.
