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CHARLOTTE, NC- Setting the facts straight. That's what Ballantyne Breakfast Club founder, Ray Eschert, hopes to do in a public meeting Saturday. Since the suggestion to make South Charlotte it's own municipality a few months ago, Eschert says there's a lot of wrong information stirring up. "Suddenly we're going to have a lower tax rate or we'll be paying less. We could end up paying more," said Eschert. That adds to a list of other rumors he's heard like a new municipality would mean a new school system and a petition is all that's needed to get the project going. He says that’s neither of those are necessarily true. "It has to do with the consideration for the school, how the money is being budgeted and spent, and it has to do with having more control over local issues," said Eschert. District seven councilman Warren Cooksey will lead Saturday's discussion. "The number one goal of our meeting tomorrow - get information out there so they can decide," said Cooksey. Information about what the new city could privatize, services the new municipality could provide separate from Charlotte, and the city boundaries. Realistically, the new city would have to cover more than the 2,000 acres in Ballantyne. So, anything south of McAlpine Creek would be part of the new municipality, with just over 100,00 residents. Since nothing like this secession has happened in North Caarolina, Cooksey has asked the man who led efforts to create a northern suburb of Atlanta in 2005, to speak at Saturday's meeting about the process. "There's what a 30 year effort to become a city. That gives you an indication of how long it can be," Cooksey. "They'll probably be some people who will say this is a great idea and we need to see what we can do about it. They'll be other people who will say why even bother. But at least everybody will have the right information," said Eschert. Both Cooksey and Ecshert say they're not advocating for or against a new city yet. They're waiting to find out from experts how realistic the option is. The meeting will be held at the Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge at 9a.m. |
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