Steele Creek neighbors still have questions about proposed transit sales tax headed to the ballot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Steele Creek neighbors won’t be the primary users of the light rail if voters agree to raise the sales tax to complete future transportation projects; they’re not even primary users now.

But the referendum still affects them.

“I want them to be really looking at the funding model and how this is being funded and being pushed down to tax taxpayers, individual taxpayers, instead of the traditional ways of funding infrastructure,” said Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell.

The meeting was held in Rodriguez-McDowell’s district. She wanted to make sure voters had as much information as possible to make the best decision.

“Sales tax, about 70 percent of that, or $13.6 billion, is generated from us. From people who live here, from businesses who buy things. … But we also know that about $5.8 billion comes out or is contributed from nonresidents,” said CATS Interim CEO Brent Cagle. 

Mecklenburg County’s transportation plan hopes to make life easier for every neighbor — reducing traffic, making it cheaper, easier, and even quicker to get to the next destination, no matter your mode of transportation.

Cagle says the money raised would give neighbors more transportation options, like micro transit.

“As we talk about the transit system plans for bus and micro transit, bear in mind, as we listen to the riders, that drives a lot of the decisions around where we want to focus,” he said. 

Officials claim the tax, if passed, will add at least $20 more a month to the average budget. Rodney McGill is also concerned about what leaders are doing for transportation in the immediate future.

“Nobody disagrees that we’re going to need new transit. As I spoke about doing the math, 150 people alone, if it doesn’t increase, that’s 150 people a day, 365 days. That’s 54,000-plus people on these roads,” McGill said. 

Matthews Town Commissioner Renee Garner says that could cause neighbors to have to make crucial decisions on how to spend their money.

While McGill is still undecided, he agreed.

“We’re talking about transit and building a transit society like Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, California, Texas, wherever you want to talk about the real expenses of this,” McGill explained. “Because if you are car-dependent and your car breaks down, that 1-cent tax, what that car will cost you right there, it’s going to take 10 years for that one state tax to pay for that. … They talk about the cost, but I don’t hear nobody saying the benefit for real… So that’s where I’m at on it.” 

Mecklenburg County’s early voting period is Oct. 16 to Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 4.