HB514...Municipal Charter Schools on the way?

News of an interesting bill filed last week landed here at aShortChronicle HQ thanks to an eagle eyed regular reader.

HB514 was filed by Matthews Rep Bill Brawley on March 28th.  The bill would allow certain municipalities in Mecklenburg and Union Counties to apply for their own charter schools.  Last year Matthews indicated its intentions to pursue a move for more independence from CMS after frustration with the CMS's reassignment process boiled over.  See that story here.

It's certainly an interesting idea, but as of now Brawley is the only sponsor.  This was filed as what's called a "local bill" and only impacts the towns of Matthews and Mint Hill in Brawley's district.  Typically, local bills need unanimous support from the county delegations to move along, but it is unclear how that might work here since only one district is impacted.

aShortChronicle checked with North Meck Rep John Bradford on where he stands on this bill.  Bradford sits on the House K-12 Education committee where this bill currently sits. Here's what he had to say.

"The bill you reference is designed for two towns, specifically, as a a pilot.

I support charter schools and parent choice. If this bill passes, I would like to see how this works out in the two towns. I think CMS would, at first, be against it but it might be a creative way for CMS to offer some alternatives like a magnet program. If they had their own Charter school(s) then the funding would still stay within the CMS system versus flowing outside the system into a separate Charter program. "

So, while this bill doesn't impact North Mecklenburg for now it is worth thinking about in the context of North Mecklenburg.

If this bill was to pass AND the pilots were successful AND the local towns were allowed to use it, it could become a possibility.   That's a lot of "ANDs", but if it were to happen Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville could effectively form a North Mecklenburg "district" and break away from CMS via a local network of charter schools.  The towns would sponsor the schools individually under this legislation, but could possibly operate them as part of some sort of interlocal agreement providing some level of independence from the town boards.

An interesting proposition to say the least.

If you support this bill or would like to see it expanded to include the North Mecklenburg towns, contact Rep Bradford to let him know.

His NCGA email is John.Bradford@ncleg.net.

H267 Being Slow Rolled to Help Toll Roads?

Back in early March, H267 - NCGA Prior Approval/Interstate Tolling - was submitted and promptly sent to the House Transportation Committee.

Upon its submission, those opposing the I77 HOT lanes project were initially encouraged that this may be an effort to find a way off the toll road track by allowing the General Assembly a way save face and put a stop to these efforts at double taxation (gas taxes as well as tolls) for driving on some of our roads.  Hopes were even higher when House Transportation Committee Chairman, Rep. Bill Brawley (R-Meck) of Matthews, signed onto the bill.  (See here and here for earlier posts on this story.)

However, that encouragement and those hopes were short-lived.

Rep. Brawley argued in this Charlotte Observer article soon after the bill was filed that "the General Assembly approved high-occupancy toll lanes for Interstate 77 in 2012 'because it was the only way to get additional capacity to I-77 North in the next 25 years'" - reiterating the pro-toll position heard from many of the project's supporters and also implying that this bill would not pertain to I77.

aShortChronicle received this response from one of the bills original sponsors, John Torbett (R-Gaston) regarding if I77 would be covered by this bill.

"I feel I-77 has already been determined and changing it would be a step backward. This bill should take effect on any new thoughts relative to tolling additional Interstates"

The exact action in 2012 which specifically authorizes tolls on I-77 has not been identified to date.  That does not mean one does not exist, but it also does not clearly mean that H267 would not apply if it was passed in time to impact the I77 tolling project.  In 2012, the NCGA did provide the authority for a pilot Public Private Partnership tolling project with H1077 - the definition of a project that would fit the I77 HOT lanes.  However, that session law does not specifically mention I77.

If the HOT lane supporters are intending to use H1077 as the reason H267 would not apply to the project, that would seem to splitting some pretty fine legal hairs.  Here's why.

If the intent of H267 is to require a vote before implementing tolls on a specific highway only when the planning for the project starts after a certain date, there is no date in H267 which would exempt I77 in the proposed bill.  Also, if the intent of H267 is to require a vote on each and every specific highway toll project if it touches existing lanes then it would apply to I77 as written because the I77 toll project uses at least a portion of an exiting lane slated to be converted to tolling.  That would be the existing HOV section of the road.  Finally, in the event H267 was passed as worded, to insulate the I77 project from any legal challenge for not having an additional vote on it, the prudent thing to do would be include language to specifically exclude I77 from being covered by the bill.

However, all of that is irrelevant if H267 just languishes in committee and never sees the light of day.  Unfortunately, that appears to be what is happening.

Since H267 was introduced in early March and sent to the House Transportation Committee, there have been no less than 7 scheduled meeting of the committee on these dates - March 19, March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23, and April 30.  The five most recent meetings all considered bills introduced after H267, including the highly complex H817 which covers Governor McCrory's proposed new plans for State transportation expenditures.  That highly complex bill was considered and passed through the House Transportation Committee mere days after the Governor announced the sweeping changes to how transportation money is spent in this state.

So, why has H267 languished?  Why can't a very simple bill that asks for an up or down vote by the Legislature on toll projects even get through committee?  One has to wonder why it has not been given the green light?

Certainly, toll road supporters know why.


Update: The day after this post, H267 started to move - being scheduled for the May 7th House Transportation Committee meeting.  See Logjam breaks for H267!!! Where will it go?

Mecklenburg's Bill Brawley Signs onto H267.

First thing Monday morning, Rep Bill Brawley of Matthews signed on as a sponsor of H276 filed last Thursday in the NC House.  While there are unconfirmed rumblings that this bill might not impact the I-77 HOT Lanes project, the fact that Rep Brawley is now a sponsor is definitely interesting.

Here's Bill Brawley at the January 14th WidenI77.org meeting in Cornelius describing his roll in helping push through the bill authorizing the P3 concept for the project.  His comments start at minute 15:00 of this clip.




In January, on the eve of starting his new role as Chair of the House Transportation Committee, Rep Brawley seems to be a fairly ardent supporter of the I-77 HOT Lanes project while still seeming to understand the concerns of those in the room.  Two months later, he signs on as a sponsor of a transportation bill which could derail that project (rumblings to the contrary notwithstanding).

When the Chair of a committee sponsors a bill directly in the purview of that committee, it has a good shot at passing.  H267 now sits in the House Transportation Committee.

Update 3/12: The rumblings continue out of Raleigh that this bill will not impact any decision on I77. If that is the case it certainly is intentional as this bill certainly could be structured to do so.

Update2 3/13: And the other shoe drops...Mr Brawley appears to actually have signed onto the bill to ensure that it does not interfere with the toll plans, not the other way around  See here.

When the politicians get it right...

I give our local pols a fair amount of grief, but never let it be said I don't recognize when they get it right.  

Today, they got it right.

This morning at the CharMeck government center in Uptown Charlotte, State and County elected officials held a press conference where they unveiled for the media companion bills introduced today at the NC General Assembly - H200 and S159 - Require Certain General Reappraisals.  These bills are intended to repair the botched 2010 Mecklenburg County revaluation.

However, as tax bills their impacts if/when passed could affect up to 70 counties across the state.  Getting a revenue impacting bill to this point with such wide possible consequences is no small feat.  Also, the bi-partisan nature of this bill is critical.  Much has been said in the media about the inflated valuations in North and South Mecklenburg - heavily Republican areas.  Less has been said about some areas of the county where there were also widespread artificially low valuations - some of those are in heavily Democratic precincts.  In light of those facts, while the press conference was led by the dynamic duo of Senator Jeff Tarte and Representative Bill Brawley, both Republicans, much praise was given to the leadership of Meck BOCC chair Pat Cotham and several other Democrats were mentioned favorably for their contributions and support.  

All involved deserve praise and recognition for doing what is right to correct what was done so, so wrong. 

But maybe my favorite moment of the short press conference came near the beginning.  Senator Tarte opened his remarks by recognizing the citizen activists who drove this issue from the start.  People like Bob Deaton of Cornelius (standing between Karen Bentley and Pat Cotham in the top picture).  Senator Tarte was almost effusive in his praise of the work done by those activists - including former Cornelius board member Jim Bensman.

It was really nice to see that recognition. 

The reality is that with all the heavy lifting that the politicians now appear ready and willing to do, this issue would not have been addressed if it was not for those activists.  If they had not stood up and continued to push for what is right, the press conference that occurred today would not have happened.

Maybe more than any event I've ever seen, this one epitomized good, bi-partisan government driven by active citizens to solve real problems.  I wish we could see it more often.