Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said today in his annual address that he is committed to seeking legislative authority for a transit tax referendum. From the News & Observer (emphasis is mine):

Meeker said he is working with other Wake County mayors on a 10-year transit plan that would add more buses and a rail line within the county. A key part of the plan, he said, will be convincing the General Assembly to allow a county-wide referendum on a half-cent sales tax that would go solely towards transit.

Last year, Meeker spent much of his state of the city address talking about the drought. Meeker said Raleigh can deal with short-term problems while continuing to lay the groundwork for the future.

“It’s important to remember how things can change from one year to the next,” Meeker said. “We can’t rely on others to make this a great city.”