Some Mecklenburg County cities want tax hike for fire safety

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Cities in Mecklenburg County want to charge some property owners more for fire safety.

Eyewitness News reporter Jenna Deery listened to the discussion Tuesday night at the County Commission meeting about raising a tax in the fastest-growing parts of the county.

It would apply to the parts that rely on volunteer fire departments that are facing a revenue shortfall.

They said they need more money to keep up with growth and needs.

Commissioners met to go over the requests from Charlotte, Cornelius and Mint Hill.
 
Each city wants a tax that supports their volunteer fire departments to be raised with the hike applied to those who live in the unincorporated parts of the county near those cities.

Charlotte's request is the highest, a 3.25-cent increase on the tax for fire service in unincorporated areas.

That means a median home value of a little more than $141,000 would pay more than $45 more on its property tax bill a year.
 
Cornelius wants a 2-cent increase and Mint Hill wants a 1-cent increase.
 
County Manager Dena Diorio said she isn't sure yet if she'll recommend the board approve it.

"We want to make sure that if we are going to raise taxes, we know exactly what those dollars are going to be used for," Diorio said.

County leaders said they will closely look at the proposal before it is voted on.

Cox Media Group