Top Stories for Aug. 27 2025
Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board next regular meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. The agenda will be available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV.
1. Tax Collection Milestone: The Office of the Tax Collector has reached record numbers in its work to collect taxes owed to the governments of Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte and the Towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville. Last budget year, the ad valorem (based on value) tax collection percentage for Mecklenburg County was 99.5%. For the first time, property tax collections for all jurisdictions have surpassed $2 billion. Additionally, revenue collected from gross receipts — also known as business taxes — was $180 million, exceeding last year’s gross receipts tax revenues by nearly $10 million. Property tax revenue funded 57% of last year’s Mecklenburg County budget.
2. Mamava at the BOPlex: Public Health has introduced a new Mamava Lactation Pod in partnership with the BOPlex. The pod supports mothers by offering a private, comfortable space for breastfeeding and pumping during events at Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium. Safe spaces at public locations help encourage breastfeeding, which give babies a healthy start at life. Breastfeeding offers several health benefits for babies by lowering their risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome. It also has benefits for moms by reducing their risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
3. Syphilis Treatment Shortage: Public Health has issued an urgent public health advisory to all pregnant women and healthcare providers regarding the increased risk of congenital syphilis due to a nationwide shortage of Bicillin L-A (penicillin G benzathine). Bicillin L-A is the only recommended and effective treatment for syphilis during pregnancy. Congenital syphilis is preventable, but timely testing and receiving adequate treatment are critical. Public Health urges all pregnant women to be tested for syphilis at their first prenatal visit, during the third trimester, and again at delivery as required by law.
4. Family Resource Fair: Parents, guardians, and community members are invited to learn about Smart Start of Mecklenburg County and services offered at Mecklenburg County’s Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center. A free resource fair will be held Saturday, Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 430 Stitt Road in Charlotte. The event will showcase services that help families thrive, including those of Smart Start and the wide range of health and human services available at the Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center such as veterans services, nutrition assistance, public health, housing security, and more.
5. When in Doubt, Throw it Out: Mecklenburg County spends more than a million dollars a year transferring non-recyclable items from recycling centers to the landfill. Since that’s money that could be saved, the Solid Waste and Recycling Department reminds residents to include only approved recyclable materials in their bins during curbside collection. To help residents remember what is recyclable and what is not, free stickers are available at any full-service recycling center or business office on Suttle Avenue in Charlotte. More information is available at WipeOutWaste.MeckNC.gov/Where-Can-I-Recycle.
6. Closed for Labor Day: Mecklenburg County offices and services will be closed on Monday, Sept. 1 for the Labor Day holiday.