With no change from their straw vote decision a week ago, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners adopted a budget for 2012-2013 on Tuesday that cuts the tax rate by 2.44 cents and provides a 3-percent raise for school employees.
The $1.42 billion budget is $31.3 million more than the current year’s adopted budget. The new budget takes effect on July 1, 2012, with a new tax rate of 79.22 cents per $100 of valued property. The owner of a $200,000 home will pay $40 less in property taxes.
The budget adopted June 5, 2012 by the BOCC mostly mirrors the recommended budget pitched by County Manager Harry Jones on May 15, with some exceptions.
While members kept Jones’ recommended $335 million for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools – an additional $9.1 million above the current year’s allocation – the Board restricted $18.5 million of that amount contingent on all employees receiving a salary increase.
Board members added other items to the budget, but without changing the total amount recommended by Jones. Instead, the BOCC voted to pay for the additions by increasing the sales tax revenue projection by more than $700,000. Some of the Board’s add-ons included:
• · $243,000 for the Battered Women’s Shelter, included in Domestic Violence Adult Victim Services
• · $100,000 for Care Ring Physicians Reach Out
• · $150,000 additional for the County’s Health Department for chronic disease prevention and wellness
• · $95,000 for a one-time assist to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte with its $195,000 annual payment to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library ImagineOn for maintenance, technology and security costs
• · $50,000 to MedAssist
• · $65,000 to Levine Senior Center
• · $55,000 to Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont to help veterans’ access legal services Find complete budget information on the County’s website at www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov and read the news release outlining the manager’s recommended budget online. 
• · $100,000 for Care Ring Physicians Reach Out
• · $150,000 additional for the County’s Health Department for chronic disease prevention and wellness
• · $95,000 for a one-time assist to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte with its $195,000 annual payment to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library ImagineOn for maintenance, technology and security costs
• · $50,000 to MedAssist
• · $65,000 to Levine Senior Center
• · $55,000 to Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont to help veterans’ access legal services Find complete budget information on the County’s website at www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov and read the news release outlining the manager’s recommended budget online.
