Top Stories for Jan. 2, 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’s next scheduled meetings are a joint meeting with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education on Jan. 13, 2025, and a budget/public policy workshop on Jan. 14, 2025. The agendas will be available online and the meetings can be viewed on MeckTV.
1. Don’t Be Delinquent: Mecklenburg County property owners must submit their tax payments by Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, to avoid delinquency. Real estate and personal property tax payments must be paid or postmarked on or before Jan. 6 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.
2. It’s a Boat! It’s a Plane! And It Needs to be Listed: Any person or business that owns property such as boats, aircraft or mobile homes, or income-producing property such as equipment, machinery or furniture associated with a business must list the property for tax purposes with the Mecklenburg County Assessor’s Office between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2025. Individual and business personal property is taxed at the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 property tax rates set by the Board of County Commissioners, the Charlotte City Council, and town boards. Individual personal property is property owned by an individual for personal use. Business personal property is the personal property owned by a business or used by an individual for income purposes.
3. Bringing the Heat: Chilly temperatures and holiday crowds have likely bumped up the thermostat in many homes. And the bills will soon come due. Mecklenburg County residents who have trouble paying their heating bills can get help through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). Applications from all residents are now being accepted. Seniors and disabled individuals have had the opportunity to apply throughout December. The deadline for all residents to apply is March 31, 2025. Visit MeckNC.gov/Energy or call 704-336-3000 to begin the application process.
4. Help After Helene: Mecklenburg County was included in the federal declared disaster for Hurricane Helene. As part of this declaration, voluntary Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding has been made available through FEMA and the State of North Carolina for both buy-outs and elevation projects where the structure is in the floodplain or has a history of damages from flooding. This funding is available even if the structure was not damaged during Helene. However, priority will be given to those directly damaged by Helene. Staff from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Hazard Mitigation group will be in Charlotte Jan. 7 through 9 to provide information and help property owners complete HMGP applications.
5. Love Speaks Out: As the stress of the holidays recedes, the new year is a time for reflection and making life decisions—and taking steps to leave an abusive relationship if necessary. That extends to youth, for whom Mecklenburg County’s Love Speaks Out program works to highlight resources available for teens who may be experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships. Love Speaks Out is looking for advocates to help teach teens about healthy versus unhealthy relationships. A two-day training on Jan. 23 and 24 will teach residents how to use the curriculum and teach teens how to avoid domestic violence. Anyone in need of support for domestic violence or sexual assault can call the 24/7 Greater Charlotte Hope Line at 980-771-HOPE (4673).