>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, CMS FOR TEACHERS AND A NEW MATH PROBLEM.

MORE SCHOOLS PLUS MORE APARTMENTS EQUAL MORE TRAFFIC.

HOW WORKING PARENTS ARE COPING WITH COVID WHEN KIDS ARE AT HOME AND THE CHARLOTTE TRANSIT PLAN WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE THROUGH RALEIGH.

OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBER TALKS ABOUT COVID ON CITY COUNCIL.

COVID ISN'T OVER BUT COVID RENT RELIEF IS FOR NOW AT LEAST.

AMERICAN AIRLINES CANCELS FLIGHTS AT THE AIRPORT.

NOT BECAUSE OF THE SNOW BUT THERE'S A DELAY.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR HISTORIC PBS STUDIOS AND I'M JEFF SONNIER AND THIS IS OFF THE RECORD F YOU WATCH THE NEWS, LISTEN TO THE NEWS, YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

STEVE CRUMP FROM WBTV, TONY MACEA FROM THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER AND ANNA MARIA FROM THE "CHARLOTTE OBSERVER" AND STEVE FROM WFAE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFF THE RECORD AT WTVI.ORG.

THE PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS COMES AS WELCOME NEWS TO THE TEACHERS, THEMSELVES.

PROBABLY FOR ALL OF US.

I GUESS MOST OF AGREE THAT IT'S BEEN TOO LONG SINCE THEY GOT THEIR LAST REAL RAISE.

THE QUESTION IS, I SUPPOSE, WHEN YOU RAISE PAY CAN YOU ALSO RAISE MORALE.

CAN YOU RAISE EXPECTATIONS?

CAN YOU RAISE OUTCOMES FROM THE KIDS?

ANNA MARIE, YOU COVER CMS FOR THE OBSERVER.

CAN YOU GIVE US THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THIS WEEK'S SCHOOL BUDGET AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED?

>> SURE.

THOSE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

[LAUGHTER] >> SORRY.

[LAUGHTER] >> DO IT ALL IN TEN SECONDS.

>> WALK US THROUGH THE RAISE, ITSELF.

WHAT ARE TEACHERS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS PROCESS IS A LITTLE BIT LATE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REALLY MOVE AHEAD UNTIL THE STATE PASSED ITS BUDGET BECAUSE IT WAS BASED OFF OF THAT.

THIS IS THEY KIND OF KNEW IT WAS COMING.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WAS.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY PROPOSED AND I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST APRIL A 3% AND IT CAME BACK SOME TEACHER ARES GOING TO GET 2.5% AND OTHERS WILL BE 1.3% DEPENDING ON THE STUFF THEY'RE ON AND THE MATH THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT.

AS FAR AS LIFTING MORALE, HUH, TEACHERS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.

ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF THEM ARE HAVING TO WORK EXTRA BECAUSE SO MANY TEACHERS ARE OUT BECAUSE OF COVID.

IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THIS RAISE TO LIFT THE MORALE.

HOPEFULLY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A START.

>> YOU'RE A PARENT, AREN'T YOU?

>> I AM.

>> MONEY AND OUTCOMES DON'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LINE UP NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

ANY THOUGHTS ON WHERE THE SCHOOL BUDGET MAY TAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GOING FORWARD?

NOT JUST THE PAY RAISES, BUT THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE THAT IDEALLY WILL HELP THAT IMPROVE THE SYSTEM, ITSELF?

>> YEAH.

LIKE ANNA MARIE SAID, IT'S A HARD TIME FOR TEACHER AND IT'S A HARD TIME FOR CMS.

THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT DEALING WITH COVID AND DEALING WITH THE MORALE ISSUES, STAFFING ISSUES, TEST SCORES COMING OUT OF COVID.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT ON THEIR PLATE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME, I THINK, FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL AND I HAVE A TENTH GRADER.

FOR HIM, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL.

YOU SHOW UP, YOU TAKE TESTS, BUT CERTAINLY, IF YOU TALK TO TEACHERS OR YOU TALK TO STAFF, IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIGGING OUT OF THE HOLE FROM, YOU KNOW, ALMOST REMOTE, ALMOST FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH.

I SUPPOSE THE BUDGET, TOO, OFFERS SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

THERE'S A LOT OF ONE-TIME FUNDING IN THERE FROM THE FEDS RELATED TO COVID THAT IDEALLY COULD HELP IMPROVE SOME PROBLEM SCHOOLS AND SO PROBLEMS IN ALL SCHOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD OUTCOMES.

I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG DEBATE LAST YEAR WHEN THE COUNTY FUNDING CAME TO THE SCHOOLS.

WHAT WERE THE SCHOOLS GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY AND HOW CAN THEY DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS GOING FORWARD.

THOUGHTS FROM THE PANEL ABOUT WHERE IT IS?

>> I THINK IN SOME WAYS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY SEEN THAT HAS OCCURRED IN YEARS PAST AS IT RELATED TO CMS AND THE BUDGET AND IN SOME REGARD IT'S LIKE A PLAY.

REASON I SAY THAT IS A LOT OF TIMES CMS CANNOT MAKE A MOVE FINANCIALLY WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY COMMISSION.

KEEP IN MIND, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT TEACHER RAISES BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU R THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE CMS BUDGET, YOU ALWAYS HEAR THE WORD POSSIBLE TAX INCREASE.

SO RIGHT NOW, AND YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT INCENTIVES, I GUESS PAY HIKES FOR SOME OF THESE.

WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, SEEN THE OUTCOME THAT COULD CONTROL THE PURSE STRING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN THE MORALE AND A LOT OF INSTRUCTORS STAYING IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> IT'S ALL KIND OF INTERRELATED I SUPPOSE AND THEY THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE RESULTS.

THEY WAITED A LONG TIME AND I HEARD A LOT OF PROMISES OVER THE YEARS BUT COVID, IN PARTICULAR, HAS EXACERBATED THOSE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND KIND OF PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THEM FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY TO SEE.

I GUESS THIS IS KIND OF A KIND OF YEAR FOR CMS, PAY RAISE FOR THE TEACHERS AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE MONEY TO TRANSLATE INTO RESULTS >> IT'S PROOF OF PERFORMANCE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE'VE HAD THESE INITIATIVES, BE IT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND BE IT FROM PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS, THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GETTING THE BANG FOR THE BUCK.

ARE WE ABLE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE RESULT IN HIGHER GRADUATIONS AND IN IMPROVED TEST SCORES TO NAME OF A COUPLE OF THE ISSUES THAT SURROUND SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT GOES INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> STEVE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

THE SCHOOL BOARD'S DISTRICT SEATS ARE GOING TO BE -- THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION FOR THOSE IN NOVEMBER.

IT WILL BE A YEAR LATE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CENSUS.

I THINK THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST CONTENSIONOUS SCHOOL BOARD RACES IN A LONG TIME BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SOME OF THESE BIG ISSUES THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

YOU HAD THE DECISION TO HAVE MOSTLY VIRTUAL SCHOOL IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT WAS THE KEY ISSUE IN THIS BUDGET WITH THE COUNTY LAST SUMMER IS VERY IMPORTANT, SO THERE'S KIND OF MULTIPLE ISSUES GOING ON, AND I THINK THAT THIS NOVEMBER ELECTION IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RUNNING AND A LOT OF THEM WILL BE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL.

SO I MEAN, WE MAY SEE MORE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION IN THIS ELECTION THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN QUITE A WHILE.

THAN PARTICULAR LOCAL EDUCATION.

I KNOW CMS ANNOUNCED OUR TIP LINE.

THEIR NEW SAFETY APP, I GUESS WOULD YOU CALL IT, FOR STUDENTS AND ANNA MARIE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR STUDENTS AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE AT CMS WITH THE TIP LINE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME GO BACK JUST ONE SECOND TO THE OTHER DISCUSSION.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT-- I KNOW THAT CMS TEACHERS PROBABLY NEED TO HEAR-- OUR EMPLOYEES NEED TO HEAR IT.

THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPEN JUST IN CMS.

COVID HAS PLAYED A HERVE ROLE AND BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM IN ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I'M HEARING IT FROM UNION AND IREDELL AND YOU ARE HEARING IT FROM EVERYWHERE THAT THE TEACHERS ARE OVERWORKED AND THERE'S ABSENCES IN COVID.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SAID.

YOU THINK, OH, IT'S JUST CMS.

THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE BUT IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

WE'RE ALL KIND OF EQUALLY AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEMS THAT JUST SEEM MAGNIFIED AT THE BIG SYSTEM, THE CMS SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY.

>> THIS IS A POSITIVE IN CMS.

THEY'RE EXPECTING-- IT'S -- THE SAY SOMETHING APP, THEY BELIEVE IN SCHOOL OFFICIALS TALKING TO STUDENTS, TALKING TO PARENTS AND BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A FEAR AND HAVING A GUN IN THEIR BACKPACK OR THEY SEE SOMETHING AT SCHOOL OR THEY SEE SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO THEY HAVE-- THEY'RE WANTING THIS APP.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRAINING STUDENTS AND TRAINING SCHOOLS AS THEY GO.

SO THEY ARE LAUNCHING THE APP AND IT'S A COMPLETE ANONYMOUS TIP LINE THAT YOU CAN REPORT ANYTHING.

AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT STUDENTS WILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT NOBODY CAN FIND OUT WHO ACTUALLY GAVE THE TIP AND IT WILL PROMPT SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

IT'S ENDORSED BY THE SANDY HOOK PROMISE.

I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH SANDY HOOK IN DECEMBER 2012 AND THE STATE WANTED TO PUT IN THE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING APP IN 2019, THE SUMMER OF 2019 IS WHEN THE STATE ROLLED IT OUT AND SAID HEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, DO THAT.

CMS IS A LITTLE BIT LATE.

UNION COUNTY HAD THE APP FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

THEY HAVE SEEN RESULTS AND THEY HAD THE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING APP HAVE AN AFFECT WITH THAT.

>> I THINK THE TIMING IS INTERESTING COMING AT A TIME WITH, WHAT IS IT, TEN-YEAR HIGH ON THE NUMBER OF GUNS THAT HAD BEEN FOUND IN THE SCHOOLS AND I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT MADE A POINT TO SAY THIS ISN'T JUST TO REPORT SCHOOL VIOLENCE, BUT YOU CAN REPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THERE'S A-- I GUESS, NOT THAT VIOLENCE HAS EVER BEEN IGNORED, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EMPHASIS ON HOW THOSE-- ALL THOSE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS ARE RELATE AND OFTENTIMES AND PUT IT IN THE SCHOOLYARD AND IN THE HALLWAY I SUPPOSE.

>> OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF GUNS THAT THEY FOUND ON CAMPUS, YOU KNOW, THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH DECEMBER.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATELY IN REHAB.

>> SCHOOL-RELATED STORY, ACTUALLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON, ONE LAST THING WITH ANNA, YOU READ A STORY ABOUT PARENTS AND COVID.

I KNOW THE SNOW DAYS TRYING TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON WHAT WE DO WHEN OUR KIDS ARE AT HOME UNEXPECTEDLY.

COVID IS KIND OF THE ETERNAL SNOW DAY.

AT LEAST IT WAS FOR LARGE PARTS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

IT'S STILL A CHALLENGE FOR WORKING PARENTS IN PARTICULAR, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE.

I LIVE IN UNION.

I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD.

SHE'S 11 NOW.

AND I MEAN, I'M CHECKING MY EMAIL EVERY NIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT QUARANTINE OR NOT A NOTE ABOUT HIM BEING IN CLOSE CONTACT.

THIS IS WHAT PARENTS ARE DEALING WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THE STORY WAS THE FACT THAT WHILE THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY HAS MOVED ON A LITTLE BIT.

I MEAN, YOU CAN GO TO CONCERTS.

YOU CAN GO TO SPORTING EVENTS, IF YOU'RE A PARENT, YOU'RE STILL STUCK IN THIS PLACE WHERE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF RULES TO FOLLOW AND IT CAN WREAK HAVOC WITH SCHEDULES AND HAVING TO MOVE THINGS AROUND AND ALL A SUDDEN, YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO STAY HOME OR THEY GET SICK.

>> YEAH.

IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I GUESS IT WON'T GO AWAY AS LONG AS COVID WON'T GO AWAY, AT LEAST FOR MANY PARENTS.

>> SPEAKING OF THE SCHOOLS, WE GOT A MATH LESSON AT CITY COUNCIL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, COURTESY OF CMS, AS I MENTIONED IN THE OPEN.

MORE SCHOOLS PLUS MORE APARTMENTS EQUALS MORE TRAFFIC.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC IN THIS TOWN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, BUT THIS IS JUST THE MOST RECENT DISCUSSION ABOUT DEALING WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS ALL AT THE SAME TIME, INCLUDING OVERCROWDING AT SCHOOL, OVERCROWDING ON ROADS AND HOW DO WE BUILD HOUSING?

ANYBODY WANT TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE NEW SCHOOL PROJECTS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN?

>> THE MAIN ONES THAT THEY WERE LOOKING THE IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN THE BALLENTYNE AREA OFF OF JOHNSON ROAD AND A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ACROSS FROM ARDREY KELLE HIGH SCHOOL ON ARDREY KELLE AND FOR YEARS, SOUTH SHAR IS SHAR IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR MORE SCHOOLS IN RELATION TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ARDREY KELLE, YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS SAYING, HANG ON.

SOME OF THE ENROLLMENTS IN THESE SOUTH CHARLOTTE SCHOOL DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN OUR BACKYARD?

THEIR MAIN OBJECTION REALLY THE APARTMENT AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN TO TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC IS A PROBLEM DOWN THERE IN A LOT OF THE MAJOR ROADS IN THE BALLENTYNE AREA.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IF WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION-- WE COULD HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN 1992 AS WELL IT'S LIKE A BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

A TALE AS OLD AS TIME.

YOU CAN HAVE MORE HOUSING AND IF YOU DO IT NEXT TO ME, I'M WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC AND CRIME AND THING LIKE THAT AND THE OTHER PART OF THAT, YOU GO NIMBY, NOT IN MY BACKYARD SCENARIO.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S ALSO THE SUBPLOT THAT KIND OF COMES THROUGH THESE DAYS YOU CAN NOT TALK ABOUT HOUSING AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE WHOLE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THE WHOLE ROLE OF NOT NECESSARILY SCHOOLS AND TRAFFIC AND POPULATION DENSITY AS WELL?

HERE'S ANOTHER THING TO CONSIDER.

IN THE PAST, SCHOOLS WOULD COME WITH A SITE AND BUILD A SCHOOL.

NOW THEY'RE COMING TO COUNCIL WITH A DEVELOPER WHO WANTS TO WANTS TO BUILD APARTMENTS AND THE SCHOOL IS A TRADEOFF, THE CARROT AT THE END OF THE STICK AND WITH LAND BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE, SCHOOLS WITH BUDGETS THAT MAYBE CAN'T AFFORD LAND IN PLAYS WHERE THEY WANT TO BUILD SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THIS, I THINK, DEVELOPERS WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TRYING TO IDENTIFY TRYING TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WHERE IT'S GOOD TO BUILD MORE CONDOS AND TOWNHOUSES.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT DEVELOPERS AND IT MAKES SENSE FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE.

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE A SCHOOL NEXT TO SOME APARTMENT AND YOU CAN HAVE TEACHERS WHO LIVE THERE.

THE ONE ON ARDREY KELLE HAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.

WORKFORCE HOUSING AND THEY CAN WALK TO SCHOOL HAVING TO IN A CAR.

THAT'S THE PITCH THERE.

>> WITH RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUE JEFF THERE, YOU AND I BOTH REMEMBER COVERING THE 2005 PLAN BACK WHEN I HAD HAIR.

YOUR HAIR WAS A LITTLE BIT DARKER.

THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSITION AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG TO USE THAT ANALOGY FROM THE STANDPOINT, IT USED TO BE PEOPLE WOULD MOVE TO CHARLOTTE AND IT WOULD BE LIKE MAY BRING, THIS IS NICE, THIS IS NICE IN TERMS OF CHECKING THE BOXES BUT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A HOME OR SITTING DOWN WITH A REAL ESTATE PERSON, ONE OF THE THINGS NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST BECOMES SCOOT THAT'S WHAT WE SAW IN 190s WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT WILL CHARLOTTE LOOK LIKE IN 2005.

>> I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED THE CHARLOTTE WE HAVE TODAY, IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS BUMPING HEADS AGAINST EACH OTHER, DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL OVERCROWDING.

THIS IS KIND OF THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE OF PROBLEMS THAT CITY COUNCIL IS DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW WITH THESE SCHOOL PROJECTS.

AND YOUR COMMENT ABOUT WALKABILITY, TONY, BRINGS US TO THE NEXT STORY.

THE CITY'S TRANSIT PLAN.

ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL, BUT THE CRYSTAL BALL HAS A COST AND STEVE, YOU WROTE A PIECE THIS WEEK FOR THE LEDGER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T GET THE MONEY TO FUND THE BIG PLANS IN TRANSIT.

>> YEAH.

IT JUST WROTE A STORY LOOKING AT THE CITY'S OPTIONS FOR WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS NO PENNY SALES TAX TO FUND THIS $13.5 MILLION PLAN.

THAT WOULD BE A HUGE BLOW TO WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO DO.

BUT WE KIND OF WALK THROUGH THE SCENARIOS AND THE CITY COULD DO A MODEST PLAN, A SMALL PLAN AND USE THE PROPERTY TAX.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO.

THEY DON'T NEED PERMISSION FOR ANYONE.

NEXT YEAR IS A REVALUATION YEAR.

WHERE THE COUNTY IS GOING TO RESET THE PROPERTY VALUE.

SO ALREADY IN A REVAL YEAR, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER WHAT THE TAX RATE SHOULD BE, WHETHER YOU ROLL IT BACK.

REMEMBER, THREE YEARS AGO, THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY COMMISSION DECIDED TO NOT ROLL BACK THE TAX RATE TO THE SO-CALLED REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE.

THEY KEPT 2 CENTS WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A PROPERTY TAX HIKE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THE QUESTION IS, IF THE CITY COUNCIL IS REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT TRANSIT, REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING THE BUS SYSTEM, THAT'S AN OPTION THAT THEY HAVE.

NEXT YEAR IS TO SAY RAISE THE TAX RATE BY THREE OR FOUR CENTS, FOUR CENTS WOULD GIVE YOU ABOUT $55 MILLION.

THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO IMPROVE BUSES TO DO THINGS LIKE 15-MINUTE HEADWAYS AND ADD MORE ROUTES.

I THINK THIS ALL OR NOTHING IDEA THAT WE'VE BEEN-- THAT'S BEEN PUT FORWARD IS NOT NECESSARILY THE ONLY CHOICE.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW THE ORIGINAL CHOICE WAS TO GET SALES TAX REVENUE FROM RALEIGH, AND THAT'S APPARENTLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON AND CERTAINLY NOT WITHOUT A VOTE BY THE, YOU KNOW, ON A REFERENDUM.

THE QUESTION THAT YOU RAISE ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX COMING AND THAT DISCUSSION COMING DURING THE YEAR WHEN CITY COUNCIL IS ALSO STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION, IS ANY CITY COUNCIL EVER GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY, YES, YOU WANT TRANSIT BUT I ALSO AM GOING TO RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAX?

THAT WAS POLITICAL SUICIDE IN PAST ELECTIONS AND IN PAST YEARS.

>> MOST DEFINITELY, RIGHT.

IT'S A REALLY HARD DECISION, BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I GUESS COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR UP FOR RE-ELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS.

THERE'S REALLY NOT A REALLY QUIET TIME, A GOOD TIME TO RAISE TAXES AND MAKE HARD CHOICES SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING, YOU KNOW THAT IS AN OPTION.

IF A LOT OF COUNCILMEMBERS SEE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT THAT'S IN CRISIS, THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND SO IF THAT'S THE CASE AND THAT'S HOW THEY FEEL, THEN THEY DO HAVE THINGS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

THEY'RE NOT COMPLETELY HOSTAGE TO WHAT THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IN RALEIGH IS WILLING TO GIVE THEM.

>> YEAH.

TWO FACTORS HERE.

TWO FACTORS HERE.

ONE IS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU SPEAK TO RALEIGH WHICH KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE IDIOM THE GREAT STATE OF MECKLENBURG.

WHICH IS CHARLOTTE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY IS AN ISLAND UNTO ITSELF.

THIS IS A DANCE THAT HAPPENS IN THIS CITY EVERY TWO YEARS.

CASE IN POINT, THAT IS, YOU'VE GOT THE SCHOOL BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSION BEING, YOU KNOW, UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR THOSE CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT A TAX INCREASE.

IF YOU HEAR A TAX INCREASE, MOST LIKELY IT WILL COME FROM CITY COUNCIL.

CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, THEY'RE UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR AND IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT YOU WILL HEAR THE WORD TAX INCREASE AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT CONVENTIONAL WISDOM HAS SEEN DEMONSTRATED OVER THE YEARS.

>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING TO TOSS INTO THE MIX.

AXIOS DID AN EXIT INTERVIEW WITH JULIE EISELT AS SHE IS LEAVING.

I USE THE TERM COUNCIL DYSFUNCTION.

SHE DIDN'T.

SHE TALKS ABOUT THE LACK OF RELATIONSHIPS ON COUNCIL, THE LACK OF CIVILITY SOMETIMES AND BLAMED A LOT OF THAT ON FACT THAT COUNCILMEMBERS DON'T MEET FACE TO FACE AS MUCH AS THEY USE BECAUSE OF COVID.

YOU GET THE SENSE AT CITY HALL, FOR WHATEVER REASON THERE IS SOME DYSFUNCTION AND THAT DYSFUNCTION MAYBE LEADS TO A LITTLE BIT OF DECISION PARALYSIS.

WE'VE GOT BIG DECISIONS TO MAKE BUT NOBODY SOAMS TO BE WILLING TO MAKE THE DECISION.

THEY WANT TO TOSS GRENADES AT EACH OTHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT, BUT THAT IS KIND OF WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES.

>> YOU KNOW, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN WASHINGTON TRANSCEND TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER ON 4th STREET.

WE'RE SEEING VERY CONTENTIOUS MOMENTS AROUND THE DIAS AND ON SOME OF THE ZOOM CALLS AS IT RELATES TO THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, TOO.

I THINK TRADITIONALLY IN CHARLOTTE, IT'S BEEN SOUTHERN AND AGAIN TEAL AND DIFFERENCES ARE IRONED OUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AHEAD OF TIME AND BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE COUNCIL MEETING, IT HAS A SCRIPTED FEELING AND THIS IS MORE OF A NORMAL-- WHEN YOU HAVE POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS, THEY'RE BEING AIRED NOW AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE PERSONAL.

SOMETIMES THESE ARE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS AND PEOPLE GET VERY HEATED ABOUT THEM.

THAT'S A NORMAL GIVE AND TAKE IN POLITICAL DEBATE.

>> STEVE?

>> YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT TONY SAID.

I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE WAY IN QUOTES, AND THAT WAS THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BIG BUSINESS, WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT'S NOT REALLY HOW IT HAPPENS ANYMORE.

MAYBE THAT'S NOT A BAD THING THAT THIS COUNCIL IS MORE INCLUSIVE.

IT'S MORE DIVERSE.

IT'S MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE THAN SAY THE COUNCIL WAS 20 YEARS AGO AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH A LOT MORE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, WHERE WE SHOULD GO AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE ON THIS COUNCIL A WILLINGNESS TO PUT FORWARD IN THE PUBLIC SOME CONTROVERSIAL IDEAS AND CONTROVERSIAL DISCUSSIONS AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN COUNCILMEMBERS SAY, WAIT, WE HAVE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT YET.

WHY ARE WE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS NOW AND TO WHAT TONY SAID, WELL, THAT IS THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT.

A PUBLIC MEETING IS THE TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE AIRING OUR DISAGREEMENTS AND HAVING POLICY DEBATES.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

I WILL ADMIT AS A CITY COUNCIL REPORTER, A LOT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND ON THE PHONE BEFORE.

NOW THEY'RE HAPPENING OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND SOMETIMES NOT JUST IN THE PUBLIC BUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TOO, WHICH MEANS EVERYBODY IS WATCHING THE SAUSAGE BEING MADE.

THAT'S NOT ALWAYS PRETTY WE KNOW THAT.

AMERICAN AIRLINES CUTTING FLIGHTS AT THE AIRPORT.

NOT BECAUSE OF WEATHER DELAYS BUT BECAUSE OF, I GUESS, THE DELAY IN THE REBOUND OF THE TRAVEL BUSINESS.

TONY, ANY THOUGHTS ON WHETHER THESE KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, CUTS COMING IN THE SPRINGTIME ARE A PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY AND THE LONG-TERM AFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HERE IN TOWN?

>> YEAH.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW.

AMERICAN ADDS FLIGHTS, IT CUTS FLIGHTS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO ALLOCATE PLANES WHERE IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

WHEN AMERICAN CUTS FLIGHTS AND CUTS CAPACITY, IT'S ABLE TO RAISE, IF IT HAPPENS INDUSTRYWIDE, THEY'RE ABLE TO RAISE FAIRS A LITTLE BIT.

IN THIS CASE, I THINK CHARLOTTE BENEFITED DURING THE PANDEMIC AS BEING ONE OF MAJOR HUBS, IT PICKED UP A LOT MORE FLIGHTS BECAUSE AMERICAN WASN'T REALLY ABLE TO DO MUCH INTERNATIONALLY.

SO THEY REALLOCATED A LOT OF THE JETS INTO CHARLOTTE AND NOW THEY'RE ALLOCATING THEM AGAIN.

SO THEY SAY THEY'RE AT 70% OF BUSINESS TRAVEL.

BUSINESS TRAVEL IS WHERE AIRLINES MAKE THEIR MONEY.

THEY CAN CHARGE A LOT MORE.

IT'S COMING BACK.

THEY SEE THAT COMING BACK AND THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN A PROFIT THIS YEAR.

I WOULD CAP IT AT A NORMAL GIVE AND TAKE OF ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FLIGHTS.

>> THAT MOVE IT.

I THINK IT WAS 800 FLIGHTS THAT ARE FLYING TODAY WON'T BE FLYING COMING MARCH.

AND ALSO THIS WAS A STORY FROM THE BUSINESS JOURNAL, OTHER HUBS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED MORE SO.

I GUESS THAT WAITING FOR THINGS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN.

EVERYONE KIND OF THOUGHT WE WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL BY NOW, BUT HERE COMES THE LATEST AND NOT SO GREATEST VERSION OF COVID PUTTING EVERYTHING ON DELAY ALL OVER AGAIN, I SUPPOSE.

WE HAD ONE OTHER STORY TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK WHICH WAS COVID RENT RELIEF.

HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TIME TO GIVE THAT TOPIC THE TIME IT DESERVES.

BUT IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK.

CERTAINLY IN THE FUTURE SO TO SHOW THAT THE MONEY HAS PRETTY MUCH RUN OUT FOR COVID RENT RELIEF AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND FOR NOW, THEY STOPPED TAKING APPLICATIONS.

THAT MEANS IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE STANDING IN LINE AND HOPING FOR THAT MONEY AS RELIEF, THAT'S IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT WE'LL ADDRESS IN A FUTURE SHOW.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE TIME THIS WEEK.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY JOINING US AND GIVING US A GOOD DISCUSSION ON THE TOPICS WE DID HAVE TIME FOR.

AT HOME, OBVIOUSLY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH US, BUT YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.

JUST EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFF THE RECORD AT WTVI.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

A PRODUCTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE.