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.