Former Charlotte mayor: Mecklenburg transit tax is the wrong plan at the wrong time | Opinion

Charlotte is a fast growing city, and all agree that we need road, bus and transit improvements.

What many do not agree on is the transportation plan and the method of funding it that is on the Nov. 4 ballot. It is the wrong plan at the wrong time.

First, the method of funding. Everyone agrees a sales tax is regressive, meaning that low-income families will pay a disproportionate share of this tax relative to their ability to pay. At a time when many are losing their jobs and their healthcare, this is a tripling of the existing transit tax, which has been collecting a half a percent for over 25 years, and a 14% increase in the current 7.25% sales tax. In addition, the tax does not sunset, so it is a forever tax — unlike the York County “pennies for progress” tax which has a seven-year sunset. With a sunset clause, voters can hold leaders accountable and see how the funding is working before re-authorizing.

Leaders of the initiative admit that they did not even explore other options, but focused on this one method and worked to get approval from the General Assembly to bring it to the voters. I applaud the bipartisan work to support it. However, the bill reads more like a plan imposed by lawmakers and officials inRaleigh rather than a plan fashioned by Mecklenburg experts. The county already had the ability to levy a quarter cent sales tax, with no strings attached, for any county purpose. Local leaders could have passed this lower tax and then explored other options — ones that are actually listed in the PAVE act — to add to the revenue such as; taxes on parking facilities; municipal service districts; tax increment financing; public-private partnerships; sale of naming rights; station rents; station air rights; advertising revenues; and more. Some of these options put more of Charlotte’s extensive corporate wealth in play, relieving low-income families.

Second, the plan itself. There are many things it does not address in our transportation needs. For brevity, I will name just a few. The transit authority created will be one of the largest transit authorities in the country with 27 members. However, even with this size, there is no provision to include a community voice, or a captive rider, who for disability or other reasons, has to use public transit every day. Local leaders have promised to correct this, but it is not required.

Disinvested communities also see that there has been no preparation to mitigate the displacement and uprooting of family homes that comes with rail and transit. The city of Charlotte has funds for affordable housing, but there has been no land banking near future transit stops to keep this housing near transit. These communities have lost trust that their concerns are being heard. Broken promises from earlier plans, from the Red Line to the Silver Line, have also eroded trust.

There has been little visible effort to increase ridership through corporate and other support to offer reduced or free bus and transit passes. Many transit communities across the country offer free rides and other incentives. CATS does have some reduced fares, but ridership remains below 2014 levels.

The Silver Line is not fully funded in this plan. Once again, the east side of our county, part of the Crescent which has the highest opportunity needs, is left behind.

Business owners near the county borders worry about the differential that an 8.25% tax will create with respect to our lower taxed neighbors. The York County sales tax is 7%. Consumers buying clothing, school supplies, lawn equipment and more can easily travel across county lines.

A large portion of this tax will go to road and rail improvements — 40% each — and only 20% of the revenue will go to improving the bus system. Those paying the most, working families who cannot afford a car, will be getting the least benefit. The city has put out a booklet of planned road improvements, but with no timeline, no prioritization, no dollar amounts beside each idea. One community meeting I attended framed it this way: 95% of the projects are “TBD.”

These are only a few of many reasons. This is not our “last chance.” If my time in politics has shown me anything, it is that there is always a plan B, which often turns out better. Working families deserve no less. Join me in voting no on the transit tax referendum.

Jennifer Roberts was mayor of Charlotte from 2015 to 2017 and was a Mecklenburg County commissioner 2004 to 2012.