Mecklenburg County commissioners take next step in sales tax for transit plan

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County commissioners spent Wednesday afternoon debating how to explain to voters why the transit sales tax referendum is so crucial to the county’s future.

There was a lot of discussion around what to include in the board’s resolution at a special county commission meeting.

Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell represents southern Mecklenburg County, including Matthews, where residents are upset they won’t get rail service in this plan. She wanted the resolution to specify that 40% of the revenue will go to rail “only,” and how long the tax will last.

“It provides wiggle space,” Rodriguez-McDowell said. ”And that’s not what we need. We need people to understand exactly what they’re voting for. That this is a permanent tax increase that is gonna go on forever,” she said.

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One local advocate for better transit wanted to see more explanation in the actual language that voters will see on the ballot.

“I would love for it to say: you are voting on a 1% tax increase that takes the overall tax rate in Charlotte up to 8.5% for a tax that’s in perpetuity,” said Robert Dawkins with Action NC.

The new county sales tax rate would actually be 8.25% if voters approve the referendum, but the wording has already been set -- it is specified in the state legislature’s bill.

Voters will see a ‘for’ and ‘against’ box with this statement: “One percent (1%) local sales and use taxes, in addition to the current local sales and use taxes, to be used only for roadway systems and public transportation systems.”

Larry Shaheen, an attorney with the Charlotte Alliance Foundation who was instrumental in the process, told Channel 9 that the language was developed locally before lawmakers put it in the bill.

Dawkins also said he wants to see better representation on the board of the transit authority that will be created.

“Meaning: the people that ride the bus have seats on the board, so you have representation for your taxation,” Dawkins said.

The next step is a public hearing next Wednesday, August 6, at the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting.

After that hearing, commissioners will vote on whether to instruct the county elections director to officially add the referendum to November’s ballot.

(VIDEO: ‘Make a seat’: Transit plan includes funding for bus stop improvements