The “Coalition for a Better 2050,” which supports the sales tax increase, has raised $1.7 million, according to the campaign finance report.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Days before Mecklenburg Countyย voters will decide whether to increase the sales tax to fund transit projects, a campaign finance report is revealing which corporations are funding the effort to pass it.
The 30-year plan is projected to generate approximately $19.4 billion to fund road, bus, and rail improvements across the region,ย including the creation of the Red Line light rail. If approved by voters, it would also provide funding to create a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority which would make decisions about how that funding is spent.
The “Coalition for a Better 2050,” which supports the sales tax increase, has raised $1.7 million, according to the report.
The biggest donor is Atrium Health, which contributed $250,000. HNTB, an infrastructure firm, donated $105,000, making it the second-largest contributor. The Charlotte Hornets follows, with $55,000.
The following are some of the big names who donated $50,000 each: Carolina Panthers, Duke Energy, Coca-Cola Consolidated, and Charlotte Motor Speedway. There also multiple large donations made by individuals.
However, the campaign hasn’t been enough for voters like Makheru Bradley. He told WCNC Charlotte he voted against the measure, calling it “a protest vote.”
“My property taxes have gone up, probably as a result of gentrification, over $1,000 in the past five or six years, so I just can’t vote for increasing,” Bradley said, saying there’s better ways to spend taxpayer money. “We need better mental health services. We need better focus on homelessness. We need better focus on drug addiction.”
Rob Hefner voted for the tax increase, saying the potential benefits outweigh the costs. He lives in south Charlotte, so his biggest concern is traffic congestion.
“With the area that I live in, we see really, really horrible congestion every day going to and from work,” Hefner said. “Just the potential for improvement there at a small cost to the taxpayer, I think could be worthwhile overall.”
The MPTA would also have the power to establish its own police department. The push for a dedicated police force has gained urgency as safety concerns have intensified following the August death of Iryna Zarutska and other high-profile crimes on the light rail and at transit centers.
Hefner acknowledged the plan isn’t perfect but believes it needs to happen. However, he also says most people have likely already made up their minds.
“Whether it is focusing just on crime-related public transit or around town, people get very strong opinions very quickly,” Hefner said.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
