Charlotte Democrats Want To Increase Your Sales Tax

This from Tony Mecia with the Charlotte Ledger who is really looped in regarding all things political in Charlotte.

Bill introduced in Raleigh to advance Charlotte's transit plan

Would allow referendum on hiking Mecklenburg's sales tax to pay for transit and roads

Three N.C. senators filed the bill Monday morning; its outlook is uncertain, but more clarity could come this afternoon.

by Tony Mecia

Three N.C. senators have filed a bill in the General Assembly that would authorize Mecklenburg County to hold a referendum to raise the county’s sales tax, a key step in advancing Charlotte’s plan to expand transit.

Senate Bill 145, introduced Monday morning by Republican Senators Bill Rabon, David Craven and Vickie Sawyer, would allow Mecklenburg commissioners to place a referendum on the ballot asking voters to raise sales taxes by 1 percentage point, to 8.25%.

The money would be used to help pay for a $25 billion transportation plan that would cover building new rail lines, adding bus routes and expanding roads and sidewalks. Leaders of the city, county and Mecklenburg’s towns largely settled on the plan last summer, with the exception of the town of Matthews, which opposes it. That’s because Matthews would likely not have a rail line to uptown as originally envisioned.

The fate of the bill is uncertain. Sawyer, who represents Iredell County and the northern portion of Mecklenburg, said this month that the bill is “a long way from being palatable to have enough votes to even get to the floor.”

Legislative leaders are scheduled to be in Charlotte today to talk with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, and they are expected to discuss the fate of the bill.

CATI's Take:

(As we have pointed out before the increase is being sold by Charlotte City Council as being only a penny, just a one cent on the dollar increase to help pay for much needed light rail buses and transit improvements. 

Councilmembers like Ed Driggs what you to approve this 1% increase. But it's not a 1% increase it is a 13.34% increase in the amount of sales tax you pay every time you go out for dinner or stop by Target for cleaning supplies. 

The average North Carolina family of four spends approximately $1,289 per year in sales tax. But this amount can vary significantly depending on household income, spending habits, and the age of the children. 

For many if this bill is passed and approved by Charlotte voters that same family will lose another $250.00 per year to pay for light rail most will never ride.

Taxation is theft plain and simple.)