Top Stories for Feb. 26, 2025

A house with a large fireplace in a forest area.

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 Tuesday, Feb. 25. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 6 p.m.

1. Building a Budget: The Board of County Commissioners and other County leaders are working now to craft a budget for next year that is responsive to the needs and preferences of the community. The Board received a presentation on next year’s budget priorities as discussed during last month’s retreat, alongside proposed goals and performance measures for each priority. The new Board priorities are: 

  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Health Equity and Wellness
  • Services for Seniors
  • Workforce Development
  • Reducing Racial Disparities (cutting across all priorities)

2. Share Your View. Shape Our Future. Time is running out for Mecklenburg County residents to indicate their priorities for next year’s budget. The resident budget survey closes on Friday, Feb. 28. It takes minutes to complete and allows residents to indicate how they feel about the level of funding for services and the community’s greatest needs. County Manager Dena R. Diorio is scheduled to present her budget recommendation on May 15, a public hearing is scheduled for May 22, with the Board adopting the FY2025-2026 budget on June 3. Residents can learn more about the budget process at Budget.MeckNC.gov. 

3. Mitigating Hazard: The Board heard a presentation from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office on the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan is updated every five years to remain compliant with federal and N.C. guidelines. Mitigation planning saves lives and property, speeds recovery following disasters, and expedites pre-disaster and post-disaster grant funding. For every $1 spent on mitigation, $6 is saved in recovery. The process includes a survey that is available for residents to submit feedback, public meetings in March and April, and review by N.C. Emergency Management and FEMA. The plan is expected to be adopted in September. The survey and more information are available at MecklenburgHMP.com.

4. Designing Latta: Mecklenburg County has reached a milestone ahead of the reopening of historic Latta Place. The County will reveal the final design for the site at a community meeting on Thursday, March 20, at the North County Regional Library in Huntersville. The design concept will illustrate the County’s envisioned updates to the landscape and built environment of Latta Place. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting where they will see the design and site plans for the first time, hear about the robust community engagement and planning processes, and learn about the future of the project.  

5. Endless Summer: Residents can start making summer memories by signing their kids and teens up for a Mecklenburg County summer camp. Registration for various camps will open March 4, 5 and 6. Park and Recreation offers a variety of summer camp options: sports, aquatics, outdoor adventures, creativity and arts, technology, and more.  Summer camps are a great way to keep kids learning, active and healthy during the break from school. Registration opens at 9 a.m. each day and camps fill up fast, so sign up as soon as registration opens.