Sept. 6. By Dave Yochum. The three mayors of North Mecklenburg have put out a letter supporting a referendum on a one-cent sales tax increase to fund road improvements as well as the Red Line from Charlotte to Lake Norman.

The Cornelius and Huntersville Boards voted to request the state General Assembly authorize a countywide referendum that would consider levying a tax in order to generate revenue for transportation projects. The Davidson Town Board will consider this at their meeting this coming Monday.

‘Critical juncture’

Christy Clark

“We are now at a critical juncture for our residents, businesses, and the overall quality of life in our region,” said the letter signed by mayors Christy Clark, Huntersville; Rusty Knox, Davidson; and Woody Washam, Cornelius.

The Boards’ decisions do not authorize a tax increase; rather, it puts the decision of authorizing a 1-cent tax increase into the hands of voters in November 2025.

Background

The Red Line was promised when the existing half-cent sales tax was passed 25+ years ago, but it never happened, in part due to Norfolk Southern’s refusal to share the O-Line which runs more or less along Hwy. 115.

Rusty Knox

But news that Charlotte will buy 22 miles of the rail line means that commuter rail is on track.

Details

Half of the total revenue generated by the tax would go to the towns of Mecklenburg County for road projects.

Quotable

“With an estimated $200 million generated in north Mecklenburg over the first 10 years, we could further progress critical road projects throughout the area. The funds could additionally accelerate new road projects and many pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements,” the letter from the mayors said.

Woody Washam

The new sales tax would “bring a vital resource to our community that reliably connects us to one another and to destinations like the airport and uptown Charlotte. This connectivity is crucial to our economic development, infrastructure development, and our quality of life. We strongly encourage each of you to learn more about this initiative before it lands on the ballot in a future election,” the letter said.

The Lake Norman Chamber also supports a referendum on the matter, but is studiously neutral on the Red Line itself.