A sales tax to support the creation of the Redline in North Mecklenburg, Maybe!
What is the redline?
The red line is a heavy rail line that is proposed to run from Troutman (or somewhere up north) to downtown Charlotte
The red line will be a commuter rail line, with 10 or so stops from its north terminus to the gateway center in downtown charlotte.
Heavy rail is a diesel train, that takes a decent amount of distance to get up to speed and stop. it is not the same as the light rail system in Charlotte.
What is the sales tax referendum?
The state legislature is allowing the citizens of Mecklenburg County to vote this coming November on a sales tax referendum. The referendum will allow the county to charge an additional 1 cent sales tax on all purchases to fund the redline and other transportation items
The bill in the state senate is available for review and reading. please click on the following link – H948-revised
The additional 1 cent sales tax is on top of the ½ cent sales tax all of Mecklenburg county already pays for the current light rail system.
Why Should I vote against the sales tax referendum?
- You are already paying a sales tax for rail
- Control of the contract and the whether the red line ever gets built is in the hands of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County.
- Charlotte/Mecklenburg County can cancel the project if they feel it is not feasible. Then what happens to your sales tax revenue?
- Commuter rail is antiquated technology
- Since Covid the working patterns in Mecklenburg County heve changed significantly, and the train will be used very little
- Many questions have been proposed on the viability and cost of the redline and no one seems to have an answer for the questions
- Businesses that are near border counties will have a competitive disadvantage with an additional 2 cent sales tax, especially on large expense items
- Lower income families can not afford another 1 cent sales tax
- An alternative is for a ½ cent sales tax for all counties to have access to, which would allow local municipalities to use for transportation issues as they see fit.
Submit the form below to stay up to date on the referendum as more information is released