CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Some people in Mecklenburg County believe taxpayers should get the chance to decide again whether or not they want to pay for the growing light rail budget.

Currently a half-cent of Mecklenburg County's sales tax goes to transit projects, including the light rail. But county leaders are asking questions about that tax, specifically how it can be repealed.

Before they've even had the chance to discuss it at a county commissioners meeting, Charlotte resident Jay Morrison is already doing the legwork to find a way to let taxpayers vote on money, provided by that sales tax increase, for the light rail again.

Thursday afternoon he went to the board of elections office.

"I can tell already that there's a ground-swell out there that really wants to see, that really wants to have another opportunity to vote on this thing," he said.

Morrison started a Web site hoping to get enough signatures to force another vote.

Meanwhile County Commissioner Bill James and other Republicans are asking if that tax, known as the transit tax, can be eliminated. Legally it's possible, and James hopes city leaders are listening.

"If they're not willing to consider dropping more money into road construction and taking it out of this light rail boondoggle, then I'm prepared to ask the voters to do that," he said.

This kind of talk is getting city leaders' attention.

"We cannot stop the construction of that thing. We've got to finish it," said Charlotte City Council member Andy Dulin.

Voters are intrigued by the idea. But many say they'd still vote for the tax.

"It would be good for the city," said Charlotte resident Natalie Howard.

So what would happen to the light rail project if the sales tax does make it on the ballot and is repealed?

According to the Charlotte Area Transit System, if taxpayers vote down the half-cent sales tax, the county has to repeal the tax immediately and work would come to a screeching halt.

The city will have to deal with the consequence and find money to complete the project or find ways to clean up the unfinished work.

It's important to note the transit tax, which went into effect in 1999, has raised $30 million each year, and only a portion goes to the light rail. The federal government is supposed to chip in nearly $200 million for the light rail, but the city could lose that grant if the work is not done by the end of next year.

CATS has predicted the work will be finished, but a repeal of the sales tax could change those plans and leave work now started left undone.