NEWS

Do you support the 1-cent sales tax that is on the November ballot? Why or why not?

Rusty Knox - unopposed candidate for Mayor

I totally support the 1¢ sales tax for transportation. When the 1/2¢ sales tax was implemented in 1998, for the Red Line, no one invited Norfolk Southern to the party. Five years ago, that changed when NS said they would sell the corridor. Although the original plan that the Mayors and Managers crafted was changed by the legislature, we are still looking at a generational moment for all of Mecklenburg County. Besides the fulfillment of the Red Line promise, expanding other rail projects will provide connectivity for health care, education, employment, and economic development. For those of us in the north end of the County, this will be the largest economic development project to happen since Lake Norman was built. Enhanced bus services, accompanied by the new MicroTransit, will be expanding throughout the County, providing better services for those that choose and need to ride the bus, which is the backbone of public transit.

Ryan Fay - candidate for Town Commissioner

This is a very personal decision for residents of Mecklenburg County, and I strongly encourage voters to educate themselves, ask questions and attend public awareness events. For me personally, I will be voting in favor of the referendum. Not only am I a proponent of public transportation, but the dollars allocated to Davidson for roads (over $3 million in the first year) is a game changer for our small town. These monies will allow us to greatly enhance our vehicle and pedestrian networks while also allowing us to free up financial resources to put toward our Capital Improvement Plan. Davidson is a wonderful place to work and visit, but not everyone has the means to get here. We have so many special restaurants, family-owned shops and small businesses and, with limited parking, the Red Line will provide another option for people to visit our local businesses without the hassle of driving I-77 or the headache of finding parking. The Red Line will provide an efficient, safe and affordable mode of transportation within our Lake Norman communities and all the way to Charlotte. For many Davidson College students who do not have vehicles on campus, the Red Line will open a whole new world for them to explore the Charlotte metro and attend cultural events they might not otherwise have had access to.

Steve Justus - candidate for Town Commissioner

I support the 1-cent sales tax on the November ballot. All of us have driven on I-77 and some of us must commute to work on this stretch of road. Mecklenburg County’s population continues to grow and traffic pressure on this roadway and others will increase. Building more lanes just leads to wider congested roads. Adding transportation options for the journey south of Davidson will relieve traffic pressure. Reducing the number of combustion engines in use every day will maintain or improve our air quality. I have heard the concerns about the regressive nature of a sales tax and I agree that it is regressive. I have also heard the objections to the federal and state government’s abdication of their responsibility in addressing this challenge. And I agree that those levels of government should step up. Local options to generate funding are limited. I wish we had a local option to generate funds that was not regressive but we don’t. And just because the federal and state governments are abdicating their responsibility to address this public good is no excuse for local government to do the same.

David Lusk - candidate for Town Commissioner

I support the proposed sales tax increase for transit because expanding mobility options across Charlotte and the surrounding communities is essential. As our region continues to grow, so must our investments in reliable rail, one of the most efficient ways to move people. Current agreements already limit our options for meeting rising demand, and countless studies show that pouring more pavement only leads to more traffic.

Cities both large and small, from Washington, DC, to Providence, RI, demonstrate the benefits of strong rail connections, including direct access to airports. I’ve personally experienced those advantages in both cities. Just as important as building the system is ensuring a dedicated funding source. DC’s Metro, once world-class, has suffered serious decline in part because it lacks stable, long-term funding.

This proposal provides exactly that. As a sales tax, it affects only what people choose to spend, rather than imposing a mandatory levy on income or property. With around 30% of Mecklenburg County’s sales tax revenue derived from people who live outside the county, the cost would be shared by visitors and commuters rather than by residents alone.

Charlotte has a choice: follow the mistakes of other regions, or learn from them and commit to a reliable, lasting transit system. A strong rail network is vital to our future and this referendum is a first step toward making it possible.

Tracy Mattison Brandon - candidate for Town Commissioner

Yes, I support implementing a local sales tax to fund transit improvements. I believe it will provide equitable transportation for disabled individuals and the most vulnerable, help to address traffic congestion, reduce environmental impact, provide improved regional mobility, road project improvements and much needed improvements to CATS.

Autumn Rierson Michael - candidate for Town Commissioner

I am in full support of the sales tax increase ballot referendum for transit. I do believe this is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for regional transit, and we must act now. I am not naïve, however, and recognize that it is possible that there can be unintended consequences on our small, unique community, be it gentrification and displacement, threats to lower density historic properties, and overall development pressures. I do think moving forward with transit, however, is the right decision for this time and place in our community’s history. Consistent with my message when I first ran for office eight years ago, however, we must ensure that our community maintains its unique character, sense of place, and affordability while also allowing access to public transit for all the economic and public amenities that Charlotte has to offer.

Connie Wessner - candidate for Town Commissioner

I will vote for the 1-cent sales tax because Mecklenburg County residents desperately need an adequate and sustainable public transportation system that puts fewer cars on the road, improves pedestrian safety, and encourages the use of alternate transportation, including bicycles, buses, and trains. Still, it bothers me that as a state we seem to want to build critical infrastructure through regressive taxes and privatization only. Shifting costs to the people who can least afford it is a short-term solution that in the end takes a toll on all of us.

Until we solve that inherent inequity, I think the Town should do all it can to acknowledge and respond to the impact of the sales tax burden on people with very low incomes. That’s where stronger partnership and collaboration with our local nonprofits can make a difference. We don’t need more programs. We need to use public resources to amplify existing services and make sure we’re reaching as many people in need as we can.