CHARLOTTE (AP) — A Charlotte attorney wants a judge to find the city council in contempt of court for its decision behind closed doors to support a tax hike to pay for improvements at the home of the Carolina Panthers.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Paul Whitfield planned to file a motion in Mecklenburg County Superior Court Tuesday, also asking a judge to fine the city $1.4 million for violating the state’s Open Meetings Law.
Charlotte City Council voted 7-2 in a closed meeting in January to increase the tax on prepared food and beverages from 1 percent to 2 percent. That would have provided $144 million of the $300 million that the Panthers say are needed to make improvements to Bank of America Stadium.
There’s been no comment from city officials.