July 30. Tonight is the last of two community meetings hosted by Mecklenburg County to inform voters about transportation issues and a possible sales tax increase to fund projects.

Commissioner Vilma Leake will lead the session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the West Charlotte Recreation Center. The meeting will include a presentation from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and provide information on current services, expansion plans and the proposed referendum.

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners recently began the process of allowing voters to decide whether to raise the sales tax by one cent, to 8.25 percent, to fund transportation projects. A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 6, after which the board will vote on whether to add the referendum to the November ballot.

If approved, 40 percent of the tax revenue would go toward road projects in the towns across Mecklenburg County, while the remaining 60 percent would fund the creation of an independent transit authority to oversee light rail and bus system expansions.