Airport authority bill one step away from being voted into law

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The bill taking away control of Charlotte-Douglas Airport from the city is now only one step away from being voted into law.

Eyewitness News found out how the state would get money to possibly compensate the city for losing one of its biggest assets.

While the bill deciding the future of Charlotte-Douglas Airport was approved in Committee on Wednesday it was far from unanimous.

Rep. Becky Carney predicted the state will face a lawsuit and Rep. Kelly Alexander wondered if taking the airport would require the state to pay the city using your tax dollars.

Rep. Ruth Samuelson said the new version of the bill has a solution. If it is proven the city is owed money, it will come from airport revenues, not tax dollars. But even that tax, faced arguments.

The staffers said it could lead to more legal action.

The bill said the city of Charlotte would lose control of the airport on Jan. 1 of next year.

The new regional authority in charge would have its 11 members appointed by Oct. 1 of this year.

The new version gives the City Council and mayor a couple more appointees on that board.

Samuelson said city employees at the airport will keep their jobs and benefits at least through the transfer, and she said the board can make changes next year.

The bill instructs the new authority to work with the city on its review of airport operations, which is expected to finish in December, but the city wants the house to delay a full vote and said legal options are still on the table.