This November, New Hanover County voters will see a question about transportation funding on their ballots.

They’ll weigh in on a proposed quarter-cent sales tax to raise funds for areas such as public transportation and rail realignment. If the referendum is approved, the county estimates that $144 million would be raised from goods sold in the county over the next decade.

The measure would raise the county’s sales tax rate from 7% to 7.25%, equaling an additional 25 cents for every $100 spent on eligible purchases. It would not apply to items such as groceries, fuel and prescriptions.

New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield Jr., one of three commissioners who voted in favor of putting the idea to voters, joined us for WilmingtonBiz Talk to answer questions like "Why now?" and "Why transportation funding?"

More information about the proposal is also available online on a website set up to provide information on the topic. 

Catch the conversation below or listen to it on our podcast.