Mecklenburg County leaders brace for possible federal funding cuts to Medicaid, SNAP

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County leaders say they’re preparing for the potential ripple effects of sweeping federal spending cuts that could impact critical services like Medicaid and food assistance.

The issue begins with what some lawmakers have dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a federal proposal that would reduce spending on Medicaid and food and nutrition programs like SNAP by an estimated $1.2 trillion.

Mark Jerrell, chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, says those proposed cuts are already raising concerns locally.

“They call it the big, beautiful bill and that’s certainly what I would not call it,” Jerrell said. “This is a bill that’s creating havoc at the local level. It’s a bill that is having an adverse impact on the people that can least afford to have negative impacts on their lives.”

Jerrell says if the reductions move forward, the impact would not only be felt by residents who rely on Medicaid and SNAP benefits, but also by county staff and the community organizations that help administer those programs.

At Nourish Up, which operates a network of emergency food pantries across Charlotte, leaders say they’ve been preparing for months.

CEO Tina Postel says changes to SNAP funding could shift more financial responsibility to states and ultimately local governments.

“For the average person that might get $100 in SNAP benefits, the new ruling means the federal government might put up $85 toward that, but states are responsible for the other $15,” Postel explained. “That’s millions and millions of dollars that states and counties have never been responsible for applying toward food stamps.”

Postel says demand at Nourish Up is already at historic levels.

“In 2025, we served 175,000 people, so we could have filled up Bank of America Stadium not once, but twice. That’s before some of these big SNAP changes have gone into effect.”

The organization, which has served the community for 50 years, says it has never seen this level of need.

Jerrell says county leaders are working now to prepare for the possibility of lost federal dollars. That includes strengthening partnerships with community organizations and educating residents about what potential changes could mean.

“People have to understand the choices we will have to make, and there are a bunch of competing priorities,” Jerrell said. “There are priorities we’re statutorily required to deliver.”

The Mecklenburg County manager is expected to present a recommended budget in June. Commissioners will then work to finalize a spending plan before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

County leaders say the coming months will be critical as they assess the potential impact of federal decisions on local services  thousands of residents rely on every day.

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