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CHARLOTTE – Six Mecklenburg County commissioners, both democrats and republicans, spoke out against an idea to give Mecklenburg County the ability to add an additional half cent transit tax.

If passed, the added revenues could help build future rail projects like the purple line.

Chairman Jennifer Roberts put an item on next week's agenda for commissioners to vote whether Mecklenburg County should to be included in state House Bill 148.

But all of the six commissioners in attendance agreed the vote is either ill-timed or simply a bad idea.

"We ought not to ask for another tax on transit, leapfrogging over other priorities, such as schools, parks, libraries, jails," Commissioner Bill James said.

"Is this political to do it, when we say we cannot even find money to pay teachers or keep teachers on their jobs?" Commissioner Vilma Leake said.

Roberts was out of town Tuesday, but told News 14 Carolina she wasn't surprised by the commission's opposition.

The item is still on next week's agenda, but Roberts said without the commissioners’ unanimous support, Mecklenburg County likely wouldn't be included in the state bill and would miss out on a long term option for additional revenue.