Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory made it abundantly clear yesterday that he will do or say anything in order to save the half-cent transit tax in November. When asked what he would do as mayor if voters opted to repeal the tax, McCrory told listeners to WBT that he would immediately move to cut CATS’ costs, including reducing bus service by two-thirds.
Let’s think about the cynicism behind that response.
That even after voters have said no to a $9 billion transit plan, including at least $1 billion in brand new spending on two additional light rail lines, the first thing Pat McCrory would do is move to yank bus service. Not use the seven months and $6 million a month in continued half-cent transit tax revenue collected through the end of the fiscal year to help build a better, more affordable transit system for Charlotte, but immediately move to vindictively cut current mass transit service.
The mayor reveals too much. First, that when push comes to solve, CATS’ light rail spending will always crowd out spending on buses. That is because — as we learned from city officials in June — our transit plan is not really about moving people around, it is about “place making.”
Second, McCrory is telling you that our transit plan is total automatic pilot with no real oversight in place and no alternative for future funding aside from local taxpayers. Faced with the loss of CATS’ $70 million-a-year revolving charge card, McCrory wants to stop spending on essentials and keep the fluff.
CATS should only need about $60 million a year to run the current bus system, a completely attainable number were costs reigned in, over-subsidized fares increased, and the city kick in a few million dollars it current squanders elsewhere. Ikea got — what was it? — a $6 million kickback from the city alone this year. Several weeks ago is was another $15 million or so to build subsidized townhouses just outside of Uptown.
And best of all, there is the $76 million “funding gap” for the $300-plus million North rail line that CATS will fill with future property tax revenue. There is simply no way to look all the money Charlotte city government spends and plans to spend aside from the half-cent tax revenue and conclude that bus service should immediately be chopped if voters say no to CATS’ plans.
Except if you are Pat McCrory and you are unfamiliar with having to actually align your priorities with those of the broader public’s. Instead, McCrory promises to throw a spiteful hissy fit, ignore constructive alternatives, and punish the public for thwarting him.
Great leadership, Pat.
Bonus observation: Does the mayor’s stance remind anyone else of CMS and county officials during the run-up to the 2005 school bond vote? Vote for it or we’ll never build schools again? Never, ever use certificates of participation to fund our most vital needs if you vote this down? Never, ever, ever.
Voters saw through that one too.