Charlotte leaders ask residents to help shape next year’s budget

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte city leaders are kicking off the budget planning process on Tuesday with a focus on community input, giving residents a chance to help shape how millions of dollars are spent.

A Budget 101 session will be held Tuesday, March 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Central Piedmont Community College, where attendees can learn how the city’s budget works and how tax dollars are allocated.

Participants must register for the event here.

It will be held in the Zeiss Building (classroom 1100). Parking is available at Deck #3 located at 1329 E. 4th St.

The meeting marks the beginning of planning and public input for the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which will take effect July 1.

City officials say resident feedback is a key part of the process, especially as leaders weigh funding for major priorities like housing, public safety, transportation and economic development.

Residents have multiple ways to share their input. In addition to in-person sessions, the city has launched an online budget survey open through April 6.

The survey asks participants to rank funding priorities. It also asks if certain areas, such as police, fire services and roads, are appropriately funded.

There’s also an interactive “Balancing Act” tool that allows residents to explore last year’s budget and make their own decisions about how funding could be distributed in the future.

For those who can’t attend Tuesday’s session, a budget listening session is scheduled for March 31, where city leaders will hear input directly from residents.

After gathering community feedback, the city manager is expected to present a proposed budget to the City Council in May.

Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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