MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — It's still weeks before Mecklenburg County's manager presents his plan to balance the budget, but already, local groups are pushing back against possible cuts.
Historic Latta Plantation hosts hundreds of field trips for elementary students every year.
“Over 200,000 school kids are being educated out here in history," said Nicole Cheslak, director of Historic Latta Plantation.
CMS third-graders take mandatory field trips to the park every year, but the park could lose the $30,000 it receives from the county each year because of budget cuts.
"Where will these third-graders be able to go, is my question," Cheslak said.
The park is fighting back against the cuts. It's asking supporters to reach out to county commissioners. An online petition has already gotten 500 signatures.
Some commissioners indicated Thursday that many county departments will feel the pinch.
They said they're forced to make more than $50 million in cuts because of the flawed property revaluations in 2011.
"Latta Plantation is an important historic site but if the question comes down to adding teachers for CMS or cutting Latta, it is likely that Latta's funding will be reduced,” Commissioner Bill James said.
The park offers summer camps for kids, workshops and daily tours. The director said all of those programs could be impacted.
The county manager is slated to present his budget to the commission on May 21.