NEWS

Dear Residents of Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville,

As Mayors of the three Towns, we have worked tirelessly with our Boards and staff to get projects scheduled to find a solution to the increasing traffic and road congestion resulting from our region’s growth in recent years. We are now at a critical juncture for our residents, businesses, and the overall quality of life in our region.

Widening roads, improving intersections, providing alternative methods of transportation like microtransit, and designing alternative routes are all ways we have begun to create much-needed relief for our roads. As you may know, there is an opportunity to bring more projects to north Mecklenburg.

There has been much talk about the Red Line, a 1-cent tax, and formation of a Transit Authority, and it is time that we, as leaders, take a look at the impact this proposed legislation could have on our ever-growing region. The Cornelius and Huntersville Boards voted to request the state General Assembly authorize a countywide referendum that would consider levying a tax in order to generate revenue for transportation projects. The Davidson Town Board will consider this at their September 10 meeting. The Boards’ decisions do not authorize a tax increase; rather, it puts the decision of authorizing a 1-cent tax increase into the hands of voters. If the legislation is approved, it’s likely that you’ll see a referendum on the ballot in November 2025. What ultimately happens will be up to you and the residents of our county to decide.

Half of the total revenue generated by the tax would go to the towns of Mecklenburg County for road projects. With an estimated $200 million generated in north Mecklenburg over the first 10 years, we could further progress critical road projects throughout the area. The funds could additionally accelerate new road projects and many pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements.This funding would alleviate pressure on the Towns’ tax rates, enabling us to focus attention on other priorities, such as public safety initiatives, and parks and recreation spaces. Furthermore, a portion of the sales tax is contributed by individuals from outside of Mecklenburg County, including commuters and tourists.

As Mayors, we understand that our North Mecklenburg community also needs alternatives to our road network. The potential sales tax will deliver the Red Line. For years, the Red Line was hindered by a policy that prevented passenger rail on the O-line, shifting tax revenues into other transit projects. Now that this policy is no longer in effect, a new sales tax will bring a vital resource to our community that reliably connects us to one another and to destinations like the airport and uptown Charlotte. This connectivity is crucial to our economic development, infrastructure development, and our quality of life. We strongly encourage each of you to learn more about this initiative before it lands on the ballot in a future election.