Mecklenburg County leaders are set to reveal the FY2026 budget, outlining key funding priorities and potential impacts on public services and local taxpayers.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. โ Mecklenburg County leaders are preparing to unveil the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year โ and it could bring major changes to education funding, public transit, youth programs, and potentially your property tax bill.
County Manager Dena Diorio is scheduled to present the Fiscal Year 2026 budget plan to commissioners Wednesday, May 14 at 11 a.m.ย
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The proposal will outline how the county plans to allocate funding across key areas such as public safety, health and human services, education, and transportation.
In the meantime, here’s what we could expect:
CMS requests $667 million in county funding
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is asking the county for more than $667 million in operating funds, a $28 million increase over last yearโs allocation. District officials say the extra funding is needed to maintain current services, support staff salaries, and invest in student learning.
The funding request is part of CMSโs proposed $1.95 billion overall budget for the 2025โ26 school year.
City pushing for 1-cent sales tax to fund transit plan
Transportation is also expected to be a major talking point. The city of Charlotte is counting on the county to support a proposed 1-cent sales tax increase to fund its multi-billion-dollar transit expansion plan.
The plan includes expanded bus services and new rail lines, including the long-discussed Red and Silver Lines.
Before the tax can be put on the ballot for voters, it must receive approval from the North Carolina General Assembly and Mecklenburg County commissioners.
$2 million allocated for juvenile crime prevention
In an effort to address juvenile crime and expand services for at-risk youth, Mecklenburg County commissioners have approved a plan to invest more than $2 million in federally funded money toward youth-focused programs.
During a Board of Commissioners meeting in April, Nicole Beverly, chair of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC), presented the allocation plan totaling $2,051,713.ย
The funding comes from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and will support 12 local initiatives designed to serve over 1,000 young people by the end of FY2026 โ a significant increase from the 794 served this year.
Program selection is based on local youth service needs, performance indicators, and submitted proposals.
Will property taxes go up?
Another major question heading into the meeting: Will the county raise the property tax rate?
Last year, the Board of County Commissioners kept the rate steady at 48.31 cents per $100 of assessed value.ย
Thatโs about $483 annually for every $100,000 in property value.ย
With inflation and increasing demands on county services, residents will be watching closely to see if the manager proposes a change.
Whatโs next?
Commissioners will receive the full budget proposal during Wednesdayโs 11 a.m. meeting.ย
Public hearings and work sessions are expected to follow over the next several weeks, with a vote anticipated in late May and adoption of the budget in early June.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.ย
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