Mecklenburg County Manager Recommends $2.5 Billion Operating Budget for FY2026

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Mecklenburg County Manager Dena R. Diorio on May 14 presented her recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026 to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. 

The $2.5 billion recommended budget features a 1.6%, or $39 million, increase over the current FY2025 operating budget. To fund the critical services provided every day by Mecklenburg County and invest for the future, the County manager recommends a tax rate of 49.27 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That represents a 0.96-cent increase in the tax rate.  

The FY2026 budget works to achieve several broad goals: 

  • Fund programs and services that align with the Board’s priorities, including economic development, education, environmental stewardship, health equity and wellness, services for seniors, workforce development, and reducing racial disparities. 
  • Maintain exceptional service in an environment of falling revenues and reduced resources. 
  • Demonstrate prudent decisions to protect Mecklenburg County’s financial strength. 
  • Strengthen Mecklenburg County through investments that build resiliency and ensure a positive impact on everyone.  
  • Reduce or eliminate $13.8 million in discretionary funding to help limit an increase of the tax rate.  

Recommended Operating Budget 

The primary theme of the FY2026 recommended budget is protection and service in a time of uncertainty — protection of more than 6,000 employees who serve residents, protection of essential services, especially for those who are most vulnerable, and protection of Mecklenburg County’s fund balance and credit rating. This is amid a period when revenues are growing slower than expenses. After three years of robust sales tax growth following the pandemic, future sales tax revenues are projected to grow at levels less than 3%. 

Board Priorities 

The FY2026 recommended budget includes a total of $65 million in new funding for the Board of County Commissioners’ priorities: 

  • Education: $44 million 
  • Health Equity and Wellness: $11.4 million 
  • Senior Services: $6.3 million 
  • Workforce Development: $1.7 million 
  • Environmental Stewardship: $1.3 million 
  • Economic Development: $215,000 

Education 

The FY2026 recommended budget fully funds the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education’s requested increase of $28 million. That is a 4.4% increase for total Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools operating funding of $666.1 million. The increase will primarily supplement teacher salaries. 

  • $9.9 million for salary increases for locally funded staff. 
  • $8.3 million to address below-market salaries and increase compensation relative to years of service. 
  • $8.1 million to increase in local supplements.  
  • $2 million to fund the second year of a four-year plan to provide students with the technology or devices needed to support their learning.  
  • $33 million in capital spending for repairs and maintenance of existing facilities. 

Central Piedmont Community College 

From advanced manufacturing to healthcare to computer technology, Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) is the first choice of many residents who are working toward economic mobility and a successful future, and a key partner in addressing Mecklenburg County’s workforce development priority. The County manager recommends: 

  • $1.7 million in additional operating funding for CPCC, a 3.5% increase over last year. 
  • $3.6 million to fully fund CPCC’s capital maintenance request. 

MECK Pre-K 

MECK Pre-K is Mecklenburg County’s signature initiative in education, providing a high-quality pre-K program for all four-year-olds at no cost to families. Since its launch in 2018, MECK Pre-K has helped thousands of children build strong foundations for their educational journey. The County manager recommends an additional $3.4 million to fund 10 new MECK Pre-K classrooms and other expenses. 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library 

  • $2 million to add 15 library branch positions and support planning for the opening of the new Main Library. 
  • $1 million for collections, including $750,000 of new, ongoing funding.  

Medic   

The FY2026 recommended budget includes $7.9 million to fund Medic’s request for additional ambulances and equipment, which will enable Medic to increase its staffing by 78 positions. 

Child, Family, and Adult Services 

  • $1.4 million to annualize the operating costs for the Youth and Family Services emergency shelter. 
  • $2.3 million to expand in-home aide subsidies to serve an additional 60 clients, and to expand adult day care to serve an additional 50 clients. 
  • $416,000 in onetime funding for additional vehicles. 
  • $357,000 to increase meal, guardianship and interpreting services. 
  • $250,000 to support phase one of the implementation of the Behavioral Health Strategic Plan. 
  • $226,000 for three new social workers within Adult Protective Services. 

Community Support Services 

  • $1.1 million to annualize the operating costs for Forest Point Place permanent supportive housing for seniors. 
  • $464,000 for housing placement and navigation, and a subsidy increase for Keeping Families Together. 
  • $75,000 to fund new locations for homeless meal services. 
  • $60,000 in onetime funding for Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte to complete an ARPA-funded program. 

Park and Recreation

  •  $996,000 to fund the operations of newly opened greenway and park amenities 
  • $355,000 for an increase in contracted mowing services for County properties 
  • $261,000 for three new, full-time employees to support existing demand for park services 

Asset and Facility Management 

  • $3.6 million to increase security screening at County facilities and fund the growing cost of contracted guard services. 
  • $1.2 million in funding for facility maintenance contract increases and increased utility costs. 

County Assessor 

  • $1 million to prepare for the FY2027 property revaluation. 

Criminal Justice Services 

  • $291,000 in state-driven salary increases for support staff and court officials. 
  • $177,000 in onetime funding for court files and jury management system. 

Investments in People 

Mecklenburg County has more than 6,000 employees serving 1.2 million residents every day. The recommended budget invests $38.7 million in new funding for employees. 

  • $15.7 million for a 3% across-the-board pay increase.  
  • $11.4 million for a performance-based pay increase, up to 5%.  
  • $5.3 million for an expected 8.75% increase in medical premiums. 
  • $3.3 million for the County’s contribution to the Local Government Employee Retirement System. 
  • $389,000 for law enforcement for special separation pay. 

Information Technology 

  • $2.3 million for cost increases associated with technology, systems, software, and other IT-related services. 

Economic Development 

  • $125,000 to provide an event sponsorship for Charlotte Pride. 

Elections 

  • $5.5 million for the growing cost of conducting elections. 

Fund Balance 

Mecklenburg County’s fund balance is the primary resource for unexpected or emergency situations. Use of dollars from fund balance is restricted to onetime, nonrecurring costs, and has helped fund many new initiatives that address the Board priorities. Fund balance is estimated to be $96.2 million over the policy minimum at the end of FY2025. The FY2026 recommended budget utilizes $30 million in fund balance for onetime expenses. 

What’s Next? 

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive resident input on the FY2026 recommended budget. The public hearing is scheduled for: 

The deadline to submit comments or register in advance is Wednesday, May 21, at 5 p.m. 

Following the public hearing, the Board will hold a straw vote session on May 29. The Board is scheduled to adopt the budget at its regular meeting on June 3 at 6 p.m. The County manager’s budget presentation, public hearing, straw vote session, and adoption meeting can be viewed at Watch.MeckNC.gov. 

The budget recommendation and additional information are available at Budget.MeckNC.gov. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget will take effect July 1, 2025.