The Huntersville Town Board on Aug. 19 approved a memorandum of understanding that sets procedures for creating and appointing members to a proposed Mecklenburg Public Transportation Authority, voting 3-1.

Town staff and presenters said the MOU is one step in a multi-stage process tied to the state's PAVE Act and a planned county referendum on a proposed sales tax for transit; the MOU itself does not create or enact the sales tax. Staff described the MOU as establishing the authority to move a Mecklenburg Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) forward and explained that the authority would have 27 members.

Anthony (staff) told the board the MOU and related materials are public and that the county intends to place a sales-tax referendum on the November ballot; he said the MOU is "just one of those steps as we move forward" and is separate from the sales-tax vote. He described the legislative "payback" requirements in the PAVE Act that require the authority to study legal and financial considerations for transferring assets and outstanding indebtedness from existing transit providers and complete that report by Jan. 1, 2026.

Commissioner Bergman questioned how the MOU would ensure representation for active transit riders and how appointments would be made. Staff said each participating jurisdiction would run an application process, and the statute sets minimum requirements for appointees, including restrictions on elected officials. Staff also said there is limited flexibility in waiving some rider-designated seats if no eligible applicants are found and that municipalities could research adding stricter local preferences if desired.

During discussion, Commissioner Bergman said the town's representation on the 27-member body is "identical to towns many times smaller" and that "only 2 seats are reserved for active transit riders," which he said could be waived. He said the structure "still gives disproportionate weight to Charlotte and major business groups while sidelining both our community and the voices of everyday riders," and concluded, "I'm not gonna support this tonight." The motion to approve the MOU carried 3-1.

Staff emphasized that the authority's formation and potential asset transfers are subject to further legal and financial study and that the referendum on sales tax would be decided by voters. The MOU itself was described as procedural and part of the implementation steps outlined in the PAVE Act.