County manager Dena Diorio on Friday presented her recommended fiscal year 2021 budget to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. The $1.9 billion plan is a 0.3 percent increase over the current budget, and maintains the current tax rate.
Diorio’s proposal includes more than $523 million for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, a 4% increase. The money would provide health insurance and retirement rate increases along with funding to accommodate charter school and enrollment growth for more than 1,800 new students. The plan also includes maintenance and operating costs for one new school. There is also $42 million in pre-K and early childhood education funding in the budget plan.
When it comes to mental health support, the proposed budget would fund an additional 15 social workers, 15 counselors, 5 psychiatrists and 2 behavioral health specialists at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools at a cost of $3.4 million.
The Mecklenburg budget plan would give employees a 3% across the board increase at a cost of $9.2 million, with another $682,000 to provide a 3% merit increase for MEDIC employees. $1.3 million is in the budget for increased medical and dental insurance costs.
Affordable housing would receive a new investment of $4 million under the proposal, including $3 million to expand rental subsidy programs and $1 million to fund the second year of Habitat For Humanity’s Critical Home Repair Program.
A virtual public hearing on the proposed budget will be held May 13. Commissioners will hold a straw vote session May 26 and 27, with a final vote expected on June 2. The new budget takes effect on July 1 for the 2021 fiscal year.