Top Stories for June 6, 2024
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, June 4. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 18 at 6 p.m.
1. Building a Budget: The Board of County Commissioners has adopted Mecklenburg County’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025. The operating budget totals $2.5 billion, an increase of $140 million or 5.9% over the current FY2024 operating budget. The budget sets a property tax rate of 48.31 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That represents a one-cent increase in the tax rate that was previously scheduled to fund the Capital Improvement Plan adopted last year. The budget maintains current services, invests $153 million in new funding for Board priorities, and funds our critical partners, all while minimizing the financial impact on taxpayers. The FY2025 budget will take effect July 1, 2024. To learn more about the budget process, visit Budget.MeckNC.gov.
2. Sugaw Creek Basketball: On Saturday, June 8 there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for two newly renovated basketball courts at Sugaw Creek Park. The renovations were supported by ESPN, the sports development nonprofits love.fútbol and RISE, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, and community volunteers. The event will include music, cultural performances, and youth basketball games. ESPN employees and community volunteers refurbished the courts for residents of northeast Charlotte, where Sugaw Creek Park is located. The renovated courts will offer youth a safe space to play in their neighborhood, and support community programs delivered by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and RISE.
3. Flood Marker: There is a new sculpture along the Mallard Creek Greenway. Storm Water Services and the Arts & Science Council unveiled the sculpture this week. Charlotte artist Marek Ranis created Diver, a flood marker inspired by the profile of the human head while snorkeling. This flood marker is designed to show people the potential height of flood water. It was created in collaboration with the Arts & Science Council and is the prototype for future flood markers to be installed in the County. Flooding is Mecklenburg County’s costliest natural hazard. Local creeks overflowing onto their floodplains are mother nature’s way of slowing down raging streams.
4. Resident Review: Behavioral Health: Saturday, June 8 is the last day for the public to comment on Mecklenburg County’s draft behavioral health strategic plan. Behavioral health generally refers to mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. In recent years, Mecklenburg County has identified behavioral health as a priority for improving the well-being of residents. The purpose of the strategic plan is to improve access, quality, and coordination of services in the community and guide the use of public investments for behavioral health. The draft plan and information on submitting feedback is available for review at MeckNC.gov.
5. Supporting Small Biz: Mecklenburg County is hosting two additional“Township Connections” events to help uplift the entrepreneurs and small business owners who make up the backbone of the local economy. The Office of Economic Development is hosting the events in Mint Hill and Pineville later this month. The meet and greets connect people who are starting or growing a small-to-midsize business with free County resources. Learn about business planning support, small business loans, credit coaching, government contracting and more. For more information, visit OED.MeckNC.gov.