CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — County Manager Harry Jones recommended a drop in the property tax rate in his budget Tuesday night, but most residents of Mecklenburg County could end up paying more because of revaluation.
He suggested cutting the tax rate one cent for every $100 a home is worth.
About 43 percent of Mecklenburg County taxpayers would pay the same, or less, in property taxes under the proposal. The remaining 57 percent would still end up paying more in taxes because of revaluation, just not as much as they would if the rate stays the same. The average increase would be about $400.
"I don't take lightly the recommendation to require citizens to pay more taxes," Jones said.
Charles Burris may be one of the ones who pays less. "I definitely hope so. Every little bit counts," he said.
He's lived in his North Charlotte house for 20 years, and said his new property value is almost the same as the last one so one cent may be enough to save him money.
County commissioners have the final say on the budget. They are holding a public hearing Thursday night and plan to vote in a few weeks.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools asked for an extra $50 million. Jones recommended giving the district half of that, saying that money will save 260 teaching jobs.
WSOC
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