Carolina Politics Online

The Charlotte City Council agreed Monday to increase the NASCAR Hall of Fame budget by $32 million to boost exhibits and pay for unexpected building costs.

The 9-2 decision came after council members chastised city staff and other hall planners for not telling them sooner about the price hike. Council members complained of early, “lowball” estimates of the exhibit costs. They asked how the extra money would help attendance. And they said they felt trapped.

The Charlotte Observer

I put some highly partisan postings on this here website. But let it be known to one and all that I’m hardly a Republican apologist. This article in particular is a good example of why I’m not cozy with Mayor Pat and why it’s still possible I won’t vote for him in November.

I’m looking for a good steward of my tax money. I’m looking for someone who realizes that money in my pockets is more important than a government project. And I’m definitely looking for someone who understands that as neato-riffic as a NASCAR museum may be, it’s not the taxpayers’ job to subsidize it.

Council members Patsy Kinsey and Michael Barnes opposed the increase. Kinsey said she could not support it while residents are worrying so much about the economy.

“I just in good conscience can’t vote for $32 million,” she said.

They’re absolutely right. What does Mayor Pat say?

Mayor Pat McCrory said he doubted this would be the last problem with the project. But he, too, urged council not to hold back the extra funding.

“Now is not the time to do a second-rate project,” McCrory said. “This has got to be a sustainable project that has repeat visitors.”

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