By rssfeeds-admin County commissioners are meeting Wednesday, July 30, to discuss the final wording of a referendum that could appear on the November 4 ballot.
The proposal? A one-cent sales tax that would raise an estimated $20 billion over the next 30 years to support buses, rail, sidewalks, bike lanes, and road improvements.
Charlotte City Council Member Marjorie Molina says time is tight to get the word out.
“Right now, I think we do have a pretty short runway right to get our community members up to date,” Molina said. The idea of a tax hike may not be popular with everyone, but some city leaders believe the long-term benefits are worth it.
“People don’t want to pay more taxes, and referendums in other cities have been unsuccessful on occasion like this,” said Charlotte City Council Member Ed Driggs. “On the other hand, everybody sees the condition on the roads, and I think the story that we’re telling about the advantages that they can expect – the rail, the bus, the roads, sidewalks, bike trails – I think people will get excited about that.”
Before anything is officially added to the ballot, the public will have a chance to weigh in. A public hearing is scheduled for August 6, and county officials are encouraging residents to attend, ask questions, and share their thoughts.
If commissioners vote to move forward, Mecklenburg County residents will get to decide the future of their transportation system at the polls this fall.
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