Nov. 4. 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.
