June 23. By Dave Yochum. The Board of County Commissioners has approved a $2.2-billion budget that is 6.7 percent above the current 2022 operating budget. Nevertheless, the new budget maintains the existing county tax rate of 61.69 cents.

With Cornelius’ newly adopted FY 2023 budget, property owners will pay a total of 84.89 cents for every $100 of valuation. Cornelius homeowners whose property is assessed at $400,000 will pay $3,395 in taxes next year.

The new budget, which goes into effect July 1, provides an additional $30 million for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools operational budget compared to last year.

To view the full county budget, visit budget.MeckNC.gov. Here’s a detailed look at the county budget:

Affordable Housing

$8.1 million for onetime funding to support the Rental Subsidy Fund, including $3.1 million for the Billingsley mixed-income development and $5 million for other programs.

$3 million in recurring funding for rental subsidies.

$1 million contribution to the capital campaign for Rebound men’s campus at Charlotte Rescue Mission.

$778,000 for the United Way of Central Carolinas to administer A Home For All: Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Strategy To End & Prevent Homelessness.

$500,000 for the County to research the effects of corporate-owned real estate and its impact on residents and values.

$300,000 to expand current vendor housing program for justice involved persons.

$100,000 to support the preservation of Pottstown, a historically Black neighborhood in Huntersville.

Education Attainment Gaps

$7.4 million in new funding for libraries, literacy programming and skill development for career readiness including:

$4.2 million for new CMS initiatives.

$3 million for the Carolinas Aviation Museum to fund education opportunities for students, including STEM education.

$250,000 for Out Teach to provide outdoor learning labs at Title I schools.

Environment

$50 million for land acquisition.

$12.8 million in recurring funding for the Environmental Leadership Action Plan, which includes County facility upgrades, additional electric vehicles and charging stations, and invasive species control.

$3.2 million for stream restoration, flood mitigation and cove protection.

$625,000 for idle reduction technology in the MEDIC Fleet, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

MECK Pre-K

More than $23 million for Meck Pre-K operations and to increase reimbursement rates for Meck Pre-K providers which will help recruit and retain employees.

Workforce Development

$1.1 million of existing funding in the Department of Community Resources for three new programs:

$200,000 for The ROC which provides technical construction skills and job-readiness training, mentorships, paid apprenticeships and permanent job placement.

$364,000 for She Built This City to provide programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for women.

$560,000 for the Urban League of Central Carolinas – Working Women, Thriving Families, Better Communities (WTB) Initiative, which addresses disparities related to pay equity, resource accessibility, and provides training opportunities.

$235,000 to create new IT positions for graduates of the Road to Hire program which partners with CMS.

$120,000 for the Economic Development Office’s Business LaunchPad program.

$100,000 in realigned dollars to support employment services training for Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) clients.

$66,000 in increased funding for the partnership between LUESA and Autism After 18, which employs individuals on the autism spectrum.

$1 million awarded to the Unified Workforce Development program following a request by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, allowing the program to serve two additional populations: graduating high school seniors who are entering the workforce, and underemployed or unemployed residents with limited access to resources.

Racial Disparities

The County has hired its new Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer and 10 positions allocated last year that will be fully staffed across departments at the beginning of FY2023, supporting the County’s Equity Action Plan designed to create long lasting institutional and structural changes.

$3 million to create opportunities for generational wealth building.

Senior Nutrition Equity Race Programs were expanded by $1.1 million with ARPA funds from the Centralina Council of Governments.

$470,000 to support StarMed’s nonprofit The Blessing Foundation, offering sliding fee scale or free care to those in need.

$389,000 to expand food security initiatives within Public Health.

$100,000 to support the Our Smile Dental Collaborative in partnership with Lake Norman Community Health Clinic

$84,000 to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library for bilingual premium pay to enhance services for “English as a Second Language” customers.

Department of Social Services

$450,000 in annualized funding for the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center which will open in 2023.

The goal of the center is to provide a community-based option to stabilize individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in a way that reduces unnecessary trips to the emergency room, hospitalizations and incarcerations.

$1.9 million to bring adult daycare rates up to the national average of $84 per-day.

$1.6 million for MeckHope to continue behavioral health services begun during the pandemic. Under the Meck Hope umbrella of care:

$60,000 for SPARC Network psychoeducational virtual “drop-in” groups for middle and high schoolers.

$80,000 for Teen Health Connection

$277,000 for Thompson Child & Family

$518,000 for a new partnership with SYDKIMYL to serve 1,000 students virtually for social and emotional learning support.

$365,000 for Project 658

$155,000 for ARJ

$154,000 for Mental Health America

$1.5 million for crisis respite cottages and a community transition recovery program, in partnership with Alliance Health, for youth who are at risk entering the custody of DSS.

$969,000 to increase in-home aide rates to $30 per hour.

Public Health

$700,000 in new investment to expand Access to Care.

$57,000 of funding for Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte to help seniors understand and receive services.

$55,000 of funding for the Mind Body Baby NC program which connects expectant mothers with Doula services and provides support to navigate other needs in the first month after delivery.

$123,000 for additional health educator positions to support maternal and child health.
Park and Recreation

$493,000 million to support seven positions and operational funding for new parks and greenways opening in Fiscal Year 2023.

$914,000 in annualized funding for the opening of the North Regional Recreation Center.

$241,000 to fund off-duty police services at parks to augment vacancies.

$162,000 for positions to maintain newly acquired property.

$165,000 for maintenance and mowing increases.

$9.5 million in ARPA funding for maintenance and upgrades at Archdale Park, L.C. Coleman Park, Monroe Road Park and Druid Hills Park.

Asset and Facility Management

$687,000 for fuel price adjustments.

$451,000 for security screening at Valerie C. Woodard Center.

$413,000 for increases in contractual cost for security services throughout County facilities.

$237,000 for security software upgrades and maintenance.

$105,000 for additional mobile security patrol services.

Information Technology

$393,000 for the new MeckNC.gov and Public Library websites which will increase service quality and comply with ADA specifications.

$370,000 to support an increase in the cost of software licenses for County employees.

$350,000 for contracted services providing after-hours support and response for IT security incidents.

Employees and Human Resources

$16.6 million to fund a 5% across-the-board salary increase for all full-time and part-time employees.

$11.3 million in ARPA funding for one-time extraordinary event bonuses. The bonuses will range from

$650 to $2,250 for employees working through the pandemic.

$3.5 million to increase the County’s minimum wage to $20 per hour.

An increase in the College Reimbursement Program amounts from $3,000 to $5,250 for core degrees and from $1,500 to $2,625 for non-core degrees.

$470,000 for new Human Resources recruitment and talent acquisition specialists.

$324,000 in funding to for additional background screenings, file storage and recruiting strategies.

Sheriff’s Office

$2.7 million to provide retention bonuses for Sheriff’s Office employees working in the jail.

$667,000 for an increase in shift differential pay from $1 to $2 an hour to improve recruitment and retention.

$252,000 in funding for software maintenance.$211,000 for an increase in contractual facility maintenance.

$67,000 for taser replacement.

The County Manager supports the Sheriff’s Office recommendation to end the contract with the State for housing inmates at the Juvenile Facility (effective Dec. 1). This change will allow the Sheriff’s Office to consolidate resources at Jail Central. The County will fund operations until the facility is closed. There will be no jobs lost due to this change and the Sheriff’s Office is recruiting staff for the jail.

Medic

$3.6 million in compensation adjustments to address turnover, recruitment, and reliance on overtime, plus $100,000 in additional ARPA funding for Medic EMT recruitment bonuses (added to ARPA-funded bonuses approved in April).

This funding includes implementing a $20 minimum wage for Medic staff, including $20 minimum for EMTs and $25 minimum for paramedics, and ensures all employees receive a minimum 5% increase.

$1 million for scheduled replacement of network technology.

$637,000 for liability and property insurance which includes vehicle operation, malpractice, cybersecurity, and theft coverage.

$122,000 to fund a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College for EMT training.

Courts

$157,000 for recruitment at more competitive rates and retain qualified employees.

$244,000 for annual State increases to the Office of the Courts.

$169,000 to provide two court assistants to address case backlogs.

$310,000 to support the conversion, storage and maintenance of paper files within the Public Defender’s Office.

Arts and Culture

$500,000 in ongoing funding to support Charlotte SHOUT!

$250,000 in one-time funding for the Mint Museum’s Picasso exhibit.

Participatory Budgeting

$3 million dedicated to projects recommended directly by residents. The pilot program, begun in FY2022, allowed community members in each County Commission district to prioritize public spending projects. Residents in each district will vote on the projects through June 24 with the top projects funded in the FY2023 budget.

Public Library

$1.8 million for the new Pineville public library, which includes first-year operating expenses, collection costs and staffing.

Central Piedmont Community College

$46.9 million for CPCC, an increase of 8.2% or $3.5 million over FY2022. The funding invests primarily in facility maintenance and security.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

The budget includes a $29.9 million increase for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools which is a year-to-year increase of 5.3%. The budget includes a total operating investment of $591 million dollars, including:

$2.5 million to fund the local share of a 2.7% increase for teachers and other certified staff.

$3.9 million to fund a 2.5% increase to match the states planned increase for principals and non-certified staff.

$2.3 million to support a 5% increase to the local supplement which will keep CMS teachers the highest paid in the state.

$4.5 million for health insurance and retirement rate increases.

$3.5 million to fund 30 new positions and maintenance at two new schools.

$400,000 for New Early College High School initiative.

$1.1 million for Personalized Academic Command of English (PACE) Global Academy.

$2.7 million for English Learner Support.

$10 million in one-time funding for preventative maintenance.