Top Stories for Dec. 10, 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 met on Dec. 9. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
1. What Residents Think: The Board of County Commissioners received a presentation on the results of the 2025 Community Survey, which offers residents’ perceptions on various aspects of Mecklenburg County operations and their views of the issues. Affordable housing continues to rank as the most important issue facing Mecklenburg County, followed by crime and public safety, and traffic and transportation. Infrastructure, population growth, and cost of living all rose in the rankings from last year. Mecklenburg County once again ranked above other similar-sized metropolitan areas as a community to live, work, raise children, and recreate. The full results of the 2025 Community Survey will be available at Strategy.MeckNC.gov.
2. Be Timely, Pay Your Taxes: Mecklenburg County property owners must submit their tax payments by Jan. 5, 2026, to avoid delinquency. Real estate and personal property tax payments must be paid or postmarked on or before Jan. 5 to avoid interest charges. Property owners whose payments are received or postmarked after that date will be charged 2% interest for January, and an additional three-quarters of a percent every month thereafter until paid. Payments can be made online, by phone, by mail, or in person.
3. Help with Heat: Residents who have trouble paying their winter heating bills can get help through Mecklenburg County’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). Mecklenburg County is now accepting LIEAP applications for senior citizens aged 60 and older or disabled individuals who get help through the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services. All other households can apply beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The deadline for all applications is March 31, 2026. An applicant does not need to be behind on energy bills to receive a one-time LIEAP payment in the amount of $300, $400 or $500 based on their heating source. Visit MeckNC.gov/Energy or call 704-336-3000 to begin the application process.
4. Calling Out Small Business: Nominations are open for the 2026 Crowns of Enterprise Awards, sponsored by Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte. Community members are encouraged to nominate an outstanding local small business for one of six awards. This is the 15th year that the Crowns of Enterprise Awards will recognize the hard work of small businesses and the economic impact they have on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Nominations are due by Jan. 23, 2026, and self-nominations are welcome. The winners will be named during an awards ceremony in May 2026.
5. Celebrating Albemarle Park: Mecklenburg County officially reopened Albemarle Park on Dec. 4, celebrating extensive renovations and investments at the park located in east Charlotte. Community members are invited to visit Albemarle Park and enjoy its new amenities. Additions to the park include trails, a boardwalk, a playground, fitness equipment, a basketball court, and a small picnic shelter. Additionally, Mecklenburg County paved the park’s existing natural surface trails and renovated the parking lot. The goal of the project was to reactivate Albemarle Park and improve its visibility so residents can enjoy, benefit from and take pride in the space. View photos from the celebration.
6. One More Mile of Greenway: Park and Recreation has completed yet another mile on the greenway system. The new McAlpine Creek Greenway extension runs from Johnston Road to Highway 51/Pineville-Matthews Road. Parking is currently available at the trailhead at 11823 Johnston Road in Charlotte. A new parking lot at the other end on Highway 51 is expected to open by early next year. View project updates and other information.