CHARLOTTE — Every year Mecklenburg County commissioners gather to discuss their priorities and items they want to see in the next budget. But this year, there are some projects that are out of their hands.
[ ALSO READ: Reducing health disparities still a priority for Meck County ]
“We are really hoping to learn what the needs are in the community,” budget director Adrian Cox said. “Perhaps things that haven’t been thought of before.”
It’s called participatory budgeting, and volunteers in all six districts will come up with projects. Then residents will vote on which ones get funded. The projects can’t cost more than $125,000 and each district will be allocated $500,000.
“They can’t propose building a new park, but there might be some amenities that are not there that they might propose,” chair George Dunlap said.
Vice chair Elaine Powell said she has heard from some volunteers with interest in doing projects that are outside of the county’s realm. The projects can’t be in areas that the city is supposed to take care of like sidewalks and traffic improvements.
“They want to do all of these things the city is responsible for so there is bickering among them,” Powell said.
In addition to park improvements, other possibilities for projects include library improvements, homelessness and public art.
All of the projects will be vetted to make sure they are doable, and voting will take place in May. Click here for more information.
Over the past two days, county commissioners reiterated their commitment to tackling issues like affordable housing and workforce development.
They have lofty goals, but Dunlap thinks they should be solid with funding.
“I don’t see that we should anticipate a tax increase,” he said. “Mecklenburg County has been extremely blessed in its ability to grow throughout the pandemic.”
(WATCH BELOW: NC Gov. Cooper signs 2-year budget bill into law)
This browser does not support the video element.