CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Voters in Mecklenburg County are just days away from deciding on a crucial referendum that would raise the local sales tax by one cent to help improve roadways and public transportation.

It is a referendum that city and county leaders have been pushing for years. Earlier this year, city and county leaders asked lawmakers to add the referendum to this year’s ballot.

If the referendum is approved, it will be a 30-year investment that will shape the future of transportation in Mecklenburg County.

Funding breakdown

If approved, the sales tax would increase by 1% -- from 7.25% to 8.25%.

That would equal out to an extra cent in sales tax for every dollar spent in the county.

Officials estimated that the 1% sales tax increase could cost the average household about $

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