CHARLOTTE — The City of Charlotte claims the company hired to sell ads on Charlotte Area Transit System buses and light rail trains owes the city more than $1.5 million.
As first reported by our partners at the Charlotte Observer, the city filed a lawsuit saying Vector Media Holding didn’t pay the city for four months in 2020 citing pandemic-related pressures. It said Vector eventually resumed payments in 2020 but at lower amounts than the contract required.
Then last January, the city claims the company stopped paying again.
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Channel 9 reported last year the city discovered the missing revenue during an audit. The money was supposed to be used to manage operating costs for CATS and keep fares affordable.
A few months later, the city started operating the advertising program for CATS in house. That means now, they collect the revenue directly.
The city is demanding a jury hear the lawsuit.
In a statement to the Charlotte Observer, Vector said they’ve been trying to work with the city on a fair resolution. They said they’re hopeful the matter can be resolved quickly and out of court.
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