CHARLOTTE — One of the most powerful leaders in Raleigh is cautioning Charlotte faces an uphill battle at landing a sales tax increase referendum this year.
State Sen. Vickie Sawyer of Iredell and Mecklenburg County tells Channel 9 she is continuing to advocate for the measure but she is running into skepticism.
Sawyer says many in her Republican caucus are questioning a tax increase, even if voters are OK with it.
“When you’re just trying to talk to someone who doesn’t live in Charlotte, who will not benefit for this and he serves in the legislature, it’s kind of hard to say, ‘Oh, well, they get two taxes permanently placed last year, and now you need more tax.’ And it’s tough, right?” she said. “Especially if you’re anti-tax Republican in this crazy environment of inflation.”
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Sawyer says some lawmakers are hesitant to add another tax for Charlotte residents when they voted last year to extend the life of two hospitality taxes. That funding helped ensure the city could do the Bank of America Stadium renovation project.
“I also want to make sure that I don’t want to over promise and under deliver either and I just want to be careful and set expectations,” she said. “Because I feel like maybe that hasn’t been done before about how difficult this really is going to be.”
Councilman Malcolm Graham says he continues to be cautiously optimistic Charlotte voters will have a say on the measure this year. He says it’s about more than just the Queen City
“The General Assembly is certainly a very conservative environment,” he said. “Hopefully they will think about the future of the region and the investment that we need to move our region forward, which benefits the state directly.”
If the General Assembly authorizes the sales tax increase referendum and voters approve it, Charlotte plans to use the funds for light rail, bus and road improvements. Each town in Mecklenburg County would receive annual road funding.
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