Property tax cut proposed in Mecklenburg Co. | Politics

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Tuesday night, Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones proposed a 2.44 cent property tax decrease that would give residents the lowest tax rate in eight years.

The tax decrease is part of a budget proposal presented to county commissioners for the next fiscal year.

Jones said he was pleased to announce the tax proposal, made possible by what county leaders called conservative estimates on just how much money the county would bring in during 2012.

The property tax decrease would bring the rate down to 79.22 cents per $100 of valued property.

While many property owners will be excited about the proposal, not everyone will be happy with the overall budget.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools requested a $27 million increase from the county, which would have helped pay for a three percent raise in teachers' salaries.

Tuesday, Jones said it was the state's responsibility, not the county's, to fund teacher pay raises. His proposed budget gives CMS $9 million more than it received from the county last year, falling far short of the school system's request.

Jones said CMS and many other organizations within the county had requested extra county money to make up for cuts from the city and the state.

"We also should be very wary of voluntarily accepting this role as the catch basin for services that are drained from the state, city, or anyone else because it's a role that impacts the sustainability and affordability of county services," said Jones.

Other budget proposal highlights include:

• a two percent raise for county employees
• an additional $727,000 for Parks & Recreation to be used, in part, to develop and operate two new parks
• an additional $811,000 to restore Sunday hours for regional libraries in the county
• $2.7 million for the county to begin to transition health care services away from Carolinas Health Care System
• fire protection service district tax to pay for volunteer fire services (most rates will be set at five cents)
• law enforcement service district tax increase of 0.71 cents

Residents can participate in public comment on the proposed budget at a public hearing Thursday, May 24 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.

To register to speak, go to www.mecklenburgcountync.gov or call 704-336-2086.  The final budget is expected to be approved by county commissioners June 5.

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