MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C.,None — Four Mecklenburg County recreation centers are set to close in a matter of days.
Amay James, First Ward, Greenville and St. Paul Ray of Hope recreation enters will close once summer camps end.
After months of debate, Mecklenburg County commissioners finalized a budget plan for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, on Tuesday. The plan includes cuts to services and programs, nearly 300 layoffs and the elimination of 75 vacant full-time positions.
A decline in sales tax revenue translated into millions of dollars in cuts, county officials have said.
The Park and Recreation Department, which lost $14 million in funding, said there will be a significant reduction in all the services it offers, in addition to the closings of four centers.
Park and Rec officials said they plan to lay off more than 180 workers, including maintenance personnel, recreation coordinators, natural resources staff, fitness and athletic staff, horticulture workers, supervisors and managers.
In addition, the department plans to reduce hours at the Latta Nature Center, close McDowell Campground for six months in the off-season and reduce maintenance and landscaping at all facilities.
The cuts in centers and hours left one counselor wondering where teenagers will go instead.
"It's going to affect the city because these kids are going to be looking for a place to go," Andre Harvey said. "And where they gonna hang out at? The transit? That's not a structured environment."
In addition to the Park and Recreation Department, other county departments will receive less county funding, including the Public Library System of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, the Department of Social Services and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
"Our choices have not been choices, really, but attempts to do the least harm,'' County Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Roberts said.
The adopted $1.35 billion budget includes:
• $22.7 million for Park and Recreation
• $17.6 million for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library
• $56.4 million for the Department of Social Services
• $300 million for CMS
Library leaders said they still plan to close branches, but they don't yet know exactly how many. They are hoping that leaders in the county's six towns (Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville) will decide to allocate money to the library system to help keep branches open.
The library system typically doesn't receive any money from those municipalities.
Library patrons are hopeful that the plan will pan out.
"It's not a luxury, it's a necessity," Tony Barrino said. "Libraries are a necessity, they really are."
Department of Social Services Director Mary Wilson said the department will continue to provide public assistance programs, but because of budget cuts, will not be able to take on more people than they already have for in-home aid, senior nutrition centers or transportation for the elderly.
CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman is out of town and was unavailable for comment on the county's budget plan.
For more information about the county budget, click here.
Previous Stories: June 4, 2010: County Leaders Vote To Give Libraries, CMS More Money May 24, 2010: City Leaders Consider Helping Cash-Strapped County May 20, 2010: Park And Rec: Cuts Mean Closing Parks, Cutting Jobs May 19, 2010: Budget Cuts Mean Big Changes Across County May 19, 2010: Meck Co. Manager Submits 'Brutal' Budget Request April 30, 2010: Library Leaders Plan For Looming Budget Cuts