Mecklenburg County transportation tax advances in Raleigh

Driving the news: Rep. Tricia Cotham presented the bill to the Finance Committee Tuesday. Last week, the bill earned unanimous support from the Transportation Committee as well.

Catch up quick: The legislation would authorize the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners to put a 1-cent sales tax referendum on the November election ballot. If passed, a new 27-member authority would ensure that 40% of the funding is allocated to rail, 40% to roads, and 20% to buses.

What they're saying: Matthews Commissioner Ken McCool traveled to Raleigh to oppose the current transportation plan. The proposed funding formula would not provide enough funds to build the eastern portion of the Silver Line light rail to Matthews.

• McCool says the plan would waste $40 million in taxpayer dollars spent designing and studying the corridor.
• "We're having a bad deal," McCool said. "It's not just leaving out us. It's also leaving out east Charlotte and Union County."

The other side: "If everybody is completely happy, it's not good legislation," Cotham said.