Court Opinion

ID: 9811171
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:12:00.06511+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:05:37.652424
License: Public Domain

Barnhill, J.,
concurring: Tbe resolution adopted by tbe city council of tbe city of Charlotte, transferring $5,000 from tbe contingency fund to tbe maintenance fund for tbe municipal airport, contemplates tbat tbis fund shall be used for tbe enlargement and improvement, as well as for tbe maintenance, of tbe airport. Tbe operation of an airport is not a necessary expense of a municipality' any more so than would be tbe operation of a railway terminal or a railway or bus line depot. Consequently, tbe city council is without authority to make tbe proposed expenditure for tbe purposes contemplated by tbe resolution. Tbe inclusion of $25.00 in tbe budget for tbe operation and maintenance of tbe airport was likewise without authority in law. A-municipality is not authorized to operate, as a necessary expense of tbe municipality, airports, railway terminals, railroad or bus line depots, or similar undertakings. It follows tbat tbe city council was without authority to levy a tax without a vote of tbe people to operate tbe airport.
I am of tbe opinion, however, tbat tbe city council has tbe authority to use tax money to keep tbe airport property in a reasonably safe condition. In so far as tbe majority opinion intimates, if it does so intimate, tbat tbe city council is without tbis authority, I disagree.
Tbe city acquired tbe airport property under mandate of tbe people as expressed in an election. When tbe city acquired tbe property it did *71so in its proprietary capacity. Non constat, the city having acquired the property, it immediately became the duty of the city council to maintain the same in a reasonably safe condition, not only for the purpose of preserving the property of the city, but likewise for the purpose of protecting the city against contingent liability for injury sustained by persons legally using the property. This property should be maintained by the city council as all other property owned by the city, and the cost of its maintenance constitutes a necessary expense. The money needed therefor should come from the same fund as does the money which is used to maintain the other property owned by the city, or from the general expense fund.
ScheNcic, J., concurs in this concurring opinion.