Mecklenberg County commissioners

Mecklenburg voters will decide on a referendum to levy a 1-cent sales tax to fund Charlotte’s transit plan. That tax would generate nearly $20 billion over 30 years for various transit projects. Proponents say the time is now to make this critical decision. Others urge a no vote because of who will be hurt by rising taxes. We look at both sides.

All nine Mecklenburg Commissioners agreed Wednesday that they will no longer attempt to work with Miami Beach-based The Peebles Corp. to redevelop Brooklyn Village in Second Ward.

Mecklenburg commissioners voted 8-to-1 to place the tax on the ballot. The proposed tax increase would raise billions of dollars to build more roads, rail transit and more bus service.

During a debate over spending public money on a proposed $400 million tennis complex west of the airport, Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio said the county would not help pay for stadium renovations for the Carolina Panthers.

The U.S. job economy has had ups and downs. North Carolina has started to show signs of recovery.

A six-week budget standoff between Mecklenburg County commissioners and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board over $56 million is over. The county agreed to give the district the money — along with an extra $11 million.

The budget battle between Mecklenburg County commissioners and the school board moved into a private phase Monday as closed-door mediation sessions began.

Former Charlotte city attorney Mac McCarley has been chosen to mediate the budget standoff between the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board and Mecklenburg County commissioners.