WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Some county commissioners want another half cent sales tax for Light Rail

Some county commissioners want another half cent sales tax for Light Rail

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Some Mecklenburg county commissioners are already pushing for another half cent sales tax to pay for the next phase of the Light Rail.

The northeast extension running up North Tryon to the University City will cost $1 billion.  A commuter rail to southern Iredell County will cost about $375 million.

Now, some county commissioners want to ask the state for permission to raise the half cent sales tax to a full penny.

It will eventually require voters approving any new tax.  Friday morning Commission chair Jennifer Roberts said "with the way our economy is sales tax revenues are down. We're going to delay the building out of our transit system by ten 15 years, if we don't find another source of revenue or an additional sales tax

Commissioners will discuss the issue for the first time at next Tuesday's public policy meeting starting at 3p.m. at the government center in Uptown Charlotte.