Steve Mensing, Editor
♦Rowan County Airport completed its 3rd reading in the N.C. Senate today and now heads for a much anticipated showdown in the State House of Representatives. Longtime Raleigh watchers see airport de-annexation passage as inevitable. Yesterday in Raleigh the Senate bill overwhelmingly passed 45-1. With cross over now assured prior to the May 17th legislative cutoff date the house showdown is imminent. Rep. Carl Ford’s house bill has waited patiently for several weeks in the House Government and Finance subcommittee sharpening it blades for final combat.
The case for airport de-annexation was overwhelming from the outset. Despite wild claims by the City of Salisbury and a handsomely paid lobbyist, the City of Salisbury just couldn’t mount an offensive. Clear from the outset weeks ago, Salisbury’s sneak forcible annexation some years back was just a way to guzzle tax revenue from the airport. It was an ugly play straight from the League of Municipalities self-absorbed playbook. At no time did Salisbury put money into the airport–they only showed up to extract their yearly pound of flesh. They cared nothing for airport development. Many Senators were amazed by the inequitable exchange. The idea that Salisbury spent millions extending water and sewer lines to the airport brought eye-rolls and snorts from those familiar with the city’s so-called case. Fire protection claims by Salisbury were checkmated by the reality of the expert fire protection provided by the National Guard unit stationed at the airport. The state senators were not buying and its dubious that the house will either.
Only the flimsiest of hopes remain for the city and they center around a misinterpretation of a de-annexation standards in the house.
