The budget includes funding for education, economic opportunity and more.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. โ Mecklenburg County commissioners officially voted for and adopted a $2.6 billion dollar budget to fund schools, health care programs, professional development and public safety Tuesday evening.ย
The budget for fiscal year 2027 sees a 2% increase from last year’s budget, about $50,4 million. The budget notably does not include a property tax increase and funds Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ request of $25 million dollars to maintain operating costs.ย
Education is a priority, the commissioners said. The budget also provides funding for Central Piedmont Community College and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for more programming and staffing for the new main library in Uptown, set to open in 2027.ย
Other priorities include health equity, environmental stewardship, workforce development, senior services and economic development.ย
The top expenditures in health equity โ just over $4 million each โ will go to a new behavioral health facility-based crisis center and to a critical home repair program, including a new Emergency Repairs Initiative.
A combined near $4 million will go to Project BOAST, a transit related program to aid small businesses, and Road to Hire, which helps high school students find careers.ย
Medic will receive $11.2 million to help recruit paramedics through the Paramedic Pathways program and to support a $25.53 minimum hourly for staff.ย
The sheriff’s office will get $5.3 million for maintenance of the detention center, which is facing anย overcrowding crisis, including medical services for inmates, juvenile housing and overtime pay for officers.ย
$10 ย million will go to preserving and restoring current Park and Recreation facilities, and $1.6 million will support the development of various east Charlotte parks.ย
County employees are looking at an across-the-board 3% pay increase, supported by the new budget, with potential for a performance-based pay increase, up to 5%.ย
For a detailed look at the FY2027 budget, visit the Mecklenburg County Commissioners website.
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