Referendum on sales tax hike?

May, 18, 2010

A meeting Wednesday night has been called to explore the possibility of raising the Mecklenburg sales tax to close local governments' budget gaps in future years.

A quarter-percent tax increase, to 8.5 percent, would require a referendum. Permission to raise the tax was given all counties by the N.C. General Assembly, but never implement in Mecklenburg.

According to an announcement made at the Forum Tuesday, the group meeting Wednesday might ask Mecklenburg County Commissioners at their May 27 meeting to put the question on the November ballot.

Wednesday's meeting will be held at the Whitehead Manor Conference Center, 5901 Sardis Rd., at the intersection of Sardis and Rama Roads. Driveway access is off Sardis.

In a request for coverage sent to the Charlotte Observer, educators organizing Wednesday's meeting wrote, "The crisis which has already hurt schools, libraries, and our community college stands to worsen in the 2011-12 fiscal year as a $50 million stimulum package runs out."

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The Forum welcomes all persons to its meetings beginning at 8 a.m. most Tuesdays of the year
at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2222 Kendall Drive, Charlotte, NC
down the hill from West Charlotte High School.