In today’s lead editorial, the Dispatch breaks down Davidson County commissioners’ displeasure with a potential unfunded mandate:

A bill passed by the state Senate last year gives counties the ability to build, improve and maintain roads in the state highway system. Ordinarily, any decision from Raleigh that increases local control is a good thing, since county commissioners and city council members often have a better grasp on the needs in their communities than legislators in Raleigh. However, commissioners worry that this piece of legislation could be the first step in the state shifting some road maintenance burden to counties. The mandate would be for counties to repair their own roads. The funding would come from local counties, not the state.

The state wouldn’t do that, would it?