A long-awaited bill that would allow Mecklenburg County voters to vote on a one-cent sales tax increase for transportation has been filed in the state Senate.

Three North Carolina legislators have officially introduced a bill for Mecklenburg County to put a 1-cent sales tax increase on the 2025 election ballot. Why it matters: This is the furthest Charlotte has gotten in making its transit dreams a reality in five years and marks a significant milestone.

Legislators filed Senate Bill 145 Monday, which could allow Mecklenburg County to put a 1-cent sales tax on the ballot this year.

Senate Bill 145, filed Monday, must be approved by lawmakers before voters cast ballots. The sales tax increase would fund years of transit expansion.

Three state senators today filed a bill seeking approval for a sales tax referendum in Mecklenburg County that would generate $19.4 billion for transit and roads projects. The bill’s sponsors, all Republicans,