WINSTON-SALEM — Mecklenburg County leaders are facing a potential budget shortfall this year due to a deferred property tax increase from last year, as discussed at a county retreat in Winston-Salem.
They said money is tight.
“We have a challenge before we get to all the new stuff we want to do in (2026),” said David Boyd, the county’s Chief Financial Officer.
The county is expecting $49.2 million in growth revenue next year, but it already needs an additional $61.9 million. This shortfall is partly due to an extra $30.9 million required for employee salaries and benefits, as well as the need to make up $14.7 million from a deferred half-cent property tax increase.
Chairman Mark Jerrell said commissioners made the right call last year to lessen the tax increase.
The Mecklenburg County Commission retreat is underway in Winston-Salem. Commissioners are starting with an icebreaker and had to guess each other’s favorite restaurant pic.twitter.com/eS0WjLiLGg
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) January 29, 2025
“When you think about it, our most vulnerable residents would have been significantly hit,” Jerrell said. “That’s one of the things that we’re always going to look out for.”
The current shortfall doesn’t consider new programs and the county’s fund balance is smaller than it has been in at least six years.
Vice Chair Leigh Altman says commissioners need to keep their most vulnerable residents in mind when considering any tax hike.
“People are struggling to meet all their other obligations and so it’s a very difficult balance, and it weighs very heavily on me,” Altman said.
While a tax increase may be on the table for Mecklenburg County, Charlotte City Council does not expect to have to raise the property tax this year.
VIDEO: Households get relief from Mecklenburg County’s energy assistance program
©2025 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
