On Tuesday, the citizens of Charlotte North Carolina voted to keep the 1/2 cent sales tax, in place to help fund the building of roads, public buses, and the light rail.  Most controversial aspect of the vote was the light rail, which is slated to start operating on the south cooridor in the coming weeks. 

Opponents to the light rail system worked to get a repeal of the 1/2 cent sales tax on the ballot in an effort to stop "train madness."  While the efforts were grassroots, the opponents of the light rail system found favor with the daytime talk show hosts of Charlotte's most popular talk radio station and were rewarded by the hosts spending hundreds of hours of radio time bashing the light rail.  What is so ironic is that many of the hosts don't live in Charlotte but the neighboring suburbs in the next county.

I was against the light rail system only because they are not planning a line down through Matthews and out to Monroe.  The Independence Blvd cooridor is a parking lot during rush hour, yet people are leaving Mecklenburg county for lower taxes, schools, and a small town feel quality of life.  Plus, in some areas, its a move up in home size.  This may all change as Charlotte's uptown area becomes the center of business and higher gas prices will drive families into higher density locations. 

The school bonds were another measure that passed Tuesday, a measure that needed to get done.  With the explosion of Charlotte's suburbs, more schools and classrooms are needed to keep up with increased demand. 

However the most important bill on the ballot was a proposed transfer tax for Union County, which would have resulted in a 200% tax increase to proopety sellers.  This measure was totally unnecessary and a bad idea for homeowners.  Closing costs in the Charlotte area are relatively low, due in part to a lack of a transfer tax.  I thought this one may have had a chance since not everyone is a homeowner but I guess those who aren't do not tend to vote during mid term elections. 

Tranfer taxes are essentially government robbing homeowners blind for the equity they've built up or paid in.  We pay property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, car taxes, and the government wanted a piece of my profits.  No thanks!    

Charlotte NC Homes for Sale