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Citizen urges revisiting 'pennies for progress' and advance land banking for future schools
Summary
Resident Jack Brown urged the board to consider a local sales-tax option called "pennies for progress" to accelerate road projects and recommended banking land now for future school sites as county population grows.
Jack Brown, a Gaston County resident who spoke during the citizens recognition portion of the March 11 work session, urged commissioners to consider resurrecting a local sales‑tax option often called "pennies for progress" to accelerate road construction and relieve long lead times for state projects.
"We were not getting much action in getting road built in Gaston County," Brown said, recalling prior use of the local option to fund projects. He told commissioners he had discussed the idea with local state legislators and said they expressed conditional support for county‑level backing ahead of any legislative effort.
Brown also urged county leaders to begin banking land for future schools, noting population growth and recent development pressures that consume potential school sites. He said decisions should be made now to secure property suitable for future campuses rather than waiting until parcels are no longer available.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the comments; no formal action or staff response was recorded during the meeting. Brown’s remarks were presented as public comment rather than an item on the agenda.
