CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County commissioners passed the 2020 $1.9 billion budget Tuesday night despite a commissioner saying changes were made behind taxpayers' backs.
Commissioner At-large Pat Cotham raised red flags last week after Chairman George Dunlap used his personal email to tell other commissioners his proposed budget changes.
Cotham said doing so was like conducting a backroom deal.
Dunlap didn’t see it that way.
“That really bothered my colleagues and I can't tell you how upset they were because everything we did, we did in good faith,” Dunlap said.
[PAST COVERAGE: Meck County Commission chairman under fire for discussing budget through email]
“I have no regret what I did,” Cotham said. “I did the right thing. I can look all you in the eye and say, ‘I was looking out for you for transparency.’”
Cotham voted against the budget because of what she called a lack of transparency.
Dunlap said the board is the most transparent in Mecklenburg County history.
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