Mecklenburg County approved $2.3 billion budget; here’s what’s included

Mecklenburg County Commissioners approved a $2.3 billion budget Tuesday night, a $156 million increase from the previous year.

The budget includes a 3.5% property tax increase that will help fund social services, schools, community centers and more.

Arts and Culture

$3.5 million will be allocated to the Arts and Science Council, up by $1.4 million from last year, and will include:

-$113,000 for public art programs

– $750,000 for operating support

– $500,000 for culture block programming, which offers various art classes for the
community

– $30,000 for artist support grants

The budget includes $25 million in new funding to help residents achieve housing security.

$14 million for “Helping Out Mecklenburg Homeowners with Economic Support,” or the HOMES program – provides grants to qualifying homeowners for property tax payment assistance.

A $222,000 increase in the contract with the United Way of Greater Charlotte, which is implementing the plan.
$350,000 for a planning grant to build a strong system navigation framework.
$150,000 for a planning grant to encourage more vendors to participate in critical home repair programs.
$75,000 for a planning grant to extend emergency rental assistance programs.
$500,000 to recruit landlords for more participation in rental subsidy programs
$1 million to pilot an emergency rental assistance program in Mecklenburg County
$200,000 increase to Legal Aid for eviction prevention efforts
$2 million for the Charlotte Rescue Mission

$40 million on environmental efforts, such as land acquisition and stormwater, solid waste and air quality operating expenses
3% raises for county employees
$25.3 million for Meck Pre-K
$6.7 million to Mecklenburg’s EMS agency, Medic, for equipment including vehicles, technology replacements and “auto-loading” stretchers; $3.6 million for EMTs, paramedics and other staff
$3 million to Three Sisters Market co-op grocery store planned for the West Boulevard corridor
$128,000 to reopen Latta Place