Oct. 22. Early voting opens tomorrow and Mecklenburg County voters will decide whether to approve a 1% sales tax increase, raising the county’s rate from 7.25% to 8.25% starting as early as October 1, 2026.
Proponents argue that the tax is essential to address traffic congestion attributed to the region’s growth and commuting traffic that passes through north Mecklenburg, and emphasize that the funding stream would support critical infrastructure and safety projects that have been delayed for years, such as road widening, intersection improvements, road extensions, and sidewalk and multi-use path construction.
If the increase passes, the three North Mecklenburg towns are projected to receive over $100 million in road money over the first five years, creating a funding solution to the backlog of road construction and improvement projects.
In year one, Cornelius is projected to receive approximately $5.75 million for road improvements, with funding increasing annually as the economy grows. Year one projections are $12.5 million for Huntersville and $3.125 million for Davidson.
The tax would also help facilitate the development of the Red Line commuter rail, connecting North Mecklenburg towns to Uptown Charlotte and Charlotte-Douglas Airport (via Gateway Station and the Silver Line), and enhance bus and micro-transit services.
Opponents of the tax increase express concerns about the financial burden on residents, particularly those with lower and middle incomes. They argue that the sales tax is regressive and would disproportionately affect these groups.
Critics also question whether the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) can effectively manage the substantial funds, citing past challenges in project delivery and oversight.
Others are skeptical about the timely completion of large-scale projects like the Red Line.
The proposed tax is expected to generate approximately $19.4 billion over 30 years, with the average household contributing an estimated $240 annually, or $20 per month, according to a recent presentation by the city of Charlotte.
The revenue would be allocated as follows: 40% for road improvements, 40% for rail transit, and 20% for bus and micro-transit services.
It is estimated that year one sales tax revenues (for roads) will be $12.5 million for Huntersville, $5.75 million for Cornelius, and $3.125 million for Davidson, leading to more than $100 million of new road funding injected into north Meck in the first five years of the sales tax.
While these funds could support local projects such as the West Catawba Avenue widening and the Catawba Avenue/US 21 intersection improvements, the existence of the funds will not automatically advance the timing of those projects at the state level.
Mecklenburg Community Development Strategy:
1. Promote unsustainable growth; develop every available acre of land.
2. Go to taxpayers with hat in hand to prop up woefully inadequate infrastructure.
Good job!
Posted by rick cornwell | October 22, 2025, 10:47 amYour title is little disingenuous. it is not a 1% sales tax increase, it is a penny sales tax increase. The current standard tax rate is 7.25%, adding a penny is a 14% tax increase (13.79% to be exact). it alos tax the prepared food tax rate to 9.25%, the same as NYC!
Of this 14% increase, it provides CATS with an over 300% increase in transit tax revenue taken from the residents of Mecklenburg County. The PAVE act tries to promise a red line to North Mecklenburg, but like the promises of the 1990’s when the half cent sales tax went into effect, this will never happen. The clauses in the PAVE act allow the newly created authority to determine it is not feasible and utilize force majeure to move on to other projects.
As far as the authority, every elected official in North Meck Complains about CRTPO and how badly it is weighted to Charlotte, yet this bill creates an authority that gives even more power and authority to Charlotte and will be headed by Ned Curran, the architect of the I-77 toll lanes.
As far as the road funding, this is a local road bill, and specifically states the funding can not supplant existing road projects. Selling it as a solution to Catawba and or Hwy 21, is just an outright lie. If it could be used for Catawba Ave., which is an estimated almost $200 million dollar project, it would take all the funding for 30 years plus an additional $50 million to widen Catawba Ave.
The reality is that the electeds will use this funding for bike paths and greenway trails and we would see very little additional road work in Cornelius. Maybe an intersection improvement here an there
This is a bad bill with a never ending tax, and the residents of Mecklenburg County need to vote Against this bad bill
Posted by Brian Sisson | October 22, 2025, 10:50 amGreat comments, Brian, not much left to add except to say Vote NO on the sales tax referendum that won’t deliver on any of the promises being made by lobbyists and politicians like Washam! Denis Bilodeau is strongly opposed to this sales tax scheme!
Posted by Eric Rowell | October 22, 2025, 11:24 amThe opponents of this bill have no clue on how this works. This is the only way roads will get built in the next decade or longer. If you need an example on how this works, you need to look at York County, SC which probably has the best roads in SC because of the penny sales tax that is used for roads/infrastructure only. Get your heads out of the sand and lets get this money for Cornelius while we have the opportunity. Thanks!!
Posted by randy dalton | October 22, 2025, 11:34 amWe had the ‘opportunity’ over twenty years ago with the 1/2% sales tax increase. Where are the improvements from that?
Development has far outpaced our infrastructure needs. Until we stop such expansion Now! the infrastructure will never catch up.
Posted by James Simpson | October 22, 2025, 2:06 pmBased on what I understand, this is probably a bad idea! The comment in the article that states “The existence of the funds will not automatically advance the timing of those projects at the state level.” kind of says it all. My family has been in a neighborhood that was established in the 2007 time frame. Outside of the original paving done for the streets, no road repair or paving has even been attempted. With an average annual property tax of $1,006,500, our streets have yet to be touched in 18 years. So letting Charlotte and or Cornelius manage an additional 1% increase in Sales tax is bordering on lunacy. Especially when the state (NC) says it will not change the timing of any such projects. Who wants the “Line” coming North Mecklenburg anyway. Geez!!
Posted by Steven G Johnson | October 22, 2025, 11:41 am