Vi Lyles Statement Regarding the Murder of Iryna Zarutska

First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers go out to the young women’s family and friends.

This is a tragic situation that sheds light on problems with society safety nets related to mental healthcare and the systems that should be in place. 

As we come to understand what happened and why, we must look at the entire situation. 

While I do not know the specifics of the man’s medical record, what I have come to understand is that he has long struggled with mental health and appears to have suffered a crisis. This was the unfortunate and tragic outcome. While there are questions about the safety and security of our transit system and our city, I do know there have been significant and sustained efforts to address safety and security within our transit system and across our city.

Charlotte is by and large a safe city. 

CATS by and large is a safe transit system. 

However, tragic incidents like these should force us to look at what we are doing across our community to address root causes. We will never arrest our way out issues such homelessness and mental health. I am committed to doing the hard work with Mecklenburg County, community leaders, health care service providers, and the private sector to ensure that Charlotte continues to be one of the best cities in the world, with the highest quality of life for everyone.

I want to be clear that I am not villainizing those who struggle with their mental health or those who are unhoused. 

Mental health disease is just that – a disease like any other than needs to be treated with the same compassion, diligence and commitment as cancer or heart disease. Our community must work to address the underlying issue of access to mental healthcare.

Also, those who are unhoused are more frequently the victim of crimes and not the perpetrators. 

Too many people who are on the street need a safe place to sleep and wrap around services to lift them up.

We, as a community, must do better for those members of our community who need help and have no place to go.

Vi Lyles

Your elected Mayor of Charlotte

Props to Joe Bruno for sharing this.

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.)

Welcome

Citizens Against Tax Increases (CATI) is an effort to provide clear and concise information regarding Charlotte tax increases.

To date Charlotte and Mecklenburg residents and been permitted little ability for input as elected official rushed to get the sales tax increase on the November ballot.

Presented as "only a penny increase" the proposed 1 cent tax increase is actually a 13.33 percent increase in every Mecklenburg County resident's tax burden.

Background

As of late 2024 and throughout 2025, citizens in the Charlotte area have been voicing opposition to a proposed 1-cent Mecklenburg County sales tax increase for transportation projects.

This was put on the ballot for November 4, 2025 by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. 

While the City of Charlotte's own fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget did not include a property tax increase, local media in 2024 and 2025 reported on various citizen criticisms of other tax-related measures including the "transportation tax".

Key areas of opposition in 2024-2025

 1.   Mecklenburg County 1-cent sales tax referendum

This is the most significant tax issue facing voters in 2025.

The proposal: The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners voted in August 2025 to put a 1-cent sales tax increase on the November 4, 2025 ballot. The revenue would fund a $25 billion transit plan over 30 years, including new rail lines and improved bus services.

• Citizen concerns:
• Financial burden: Residents and town leaders believe the tax would create an unfair financial burden on citizens, particularly lower-income families.
• Equitable distribution: Critics, including former Charlotte officials, have raised concerns about the equity of the funding plan and whether it adequately serves all areas, such as the northern towns in Mecklenburg County.
• Process issues: Citizens felt the process for approving the measure, which included limited public input before the final vote, was rushed and opaque. 

2.      2.   Charlotte city property tax discussions

W        While the city did not increase its property tax rate in FY 2024, the budget process in 2024       did include some controversy. 

• The proposal: In May 2024, the Mecklenburg County Manager proposed a small county property tax increase ($57/year for a median home) to help fund Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and other projects.
• Citizen concerns:
• Council member opposition: During the 2024 budget discussions, some city council members, like Ed Driggs, voiced concerns about property tax hikes and larger-than-normal bond measures to fund city initiatives.
• Broader revaluation impacts: Following the 2024 county-wide property revaluation, citizens across the area raised concerns about the significant increase in home values and the potential effect on their tax bills. 

3. Uptown special tax district

     In mid-2024, many Uptown residents voiced frustration with a special tax increase to fund         the Uptown Vibrancy Collective, managed by Charlotte Center City Partners.

 

• The proposal: A tax increase, a fraction of a cent per $100 of assessed value, was approved for a special district in Uptown to help fund security ambassadors and other services.
• Citizen concerns: Residents complained that the process was not transparent enough and that they were not given an adequate opportunity for input before the decision was made.