CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Taxpayers are footing the bill on an expensive contract for the Charlotte Area Transit System. The $3.4 million deal approved by the city council on Monday is for a marketing group.

The contract with the Sherry Matthews Group was approved this week, and the firm is supposed to create a campaign to encourage people to use public transit in the city.

This comes after two stabbings in less than four months on the Blue Line .

According to the council agenda, the funding will come from the CATS operating budget, which is a mix of taxpayer money from the sales tax, federal and state grants, fares, and other sources, such as hotel and motel tax.

CATS says they’ve worked with a marketing firm since 2020, and it was simply time for a new contract.

Officials said th

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