With no change from their straw vote decision a week ago, the
Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners adopted a budget for
2012-2013 on Tuesday that cuts the tax rate by 2.44 cents and provides
a 3-percent raise for school employees.
The $1.42 billion budget is $31.3 million more than the current year's
adopted budget. The new budget takes effect on July 1, 2012, with a
new tax rate of 79.22 cents per $100 of valued property. The owner of
a $200,000 home will pay $40 less in property taxes.
The budget adopted June 5, 2012 by the BOCC mostly mirrors the
recommended budget pitched by County Manager Harry Jones on May 15,
with some exceptions.
While members kept Jones' recommended $335 million for Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools – an additional $9.1 million above the current
year's allocation – the Board restricted $18.5 million of that amount
contingent on all employees receiving a salary increase.
Board members added other items to the budget, but without changing
the total amount recommended by Jones. Instead, the BOCC voted to pay
for the additions by increasing the sales tax revenue projection by
more than $700,000. Some of the Board's add-ons included:
• · $243,000 for the Battered Women's Shelter, included in
Domestic Violence Adult Victim Services
• · $100,000 for Care Ring Physicians Reach Out
• · $150,000 additional for the County's Health Department
for chronic disease prevention and wellness
• · $95,000 for a one-time assist to the Children's Theatre
of Charlotte with its $195,000 annual payment to the Charlotte
Mecklenburg Library ImagineOn for maintenance, technology and security
costs
• · $50,000 to MedAssist
• · $65,000 to Levine Senior Center
• · $55,000 to Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont to
help veterans' access legal services
Find complete budget information on the County's website at www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
and read the news release outlining the manager's recommended budget
online.