The Question on the Ballot
This November, Mecklenburg County residents will decide whether to add one penny to every taxable dollar. That one percent sales tax, if approved, would bring in an estimated $19.4 billion over 30 years. The law sets the split: 40% for town road projects and 60% for a new transit authority that will take over buses and rail from the current CATS/MTC framework.
Why This Penny is Different
Unlike past proposals, this tax comes with teeth. State law requires:
- The Red Line commuter rail must be at least 50% built before any other rail project opens.
- The Metropolitan Transit Commission dissolves, with a new countywide authority created.
- Charlotte must be reimbursed for its Norfolk Southern O-Line purchase, the backbone of the Red Line.
- Towns from Cornelius to Pineville are guaranteed a roadway share, calculated by population and street mileage.
The Household Math
Analysts estimate the typical household would pay about $240 more each year. Groceries remain exempt. Visitors and commuters who shop in Mecklenburg will also contribute to the pot.
What Gets Built
- Roads and sidewalks: Towns will use their 40% share for intersections, sidewalks, bike lanes, stormwater tied to roads, and traffic signals.
- Transit expansion: The 60% share underwrites bus operations, micro-transit, and rail expansions—starting with the Red Line north to Iredell.
Politics and Timing
The Board of County Commissioners voted 8–1 on August 6 to place the tax on the November ballot. A public hearing is required at least 30 days before Election Day. Campaign season will now include the fight over whether the penny buys progress or just adds cost of living.
Full Breakdown
We’ve gone line by line through the state law, revenue estimates, and obligations that come with this tax. Read the complete analysis here:
👉 Mecklenburg’s 1% Transportation Sales Tax: Full Breakdown of Costs, Projects, and Control
☕ Jack Beckett Reporting: Brewing coffee strong enough to last three decades means a 30-year tax. I’m still working through the first pot.
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© 2025 The Charlotte Mercury / Strolling Ballantyne
This article, “The Penny That Could Redraw Mecklenburg,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“The Penny That Could Redraw Mecklenburg”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)