Brace for higher taxes

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Brace for higher taxes

By Michaela L. Duckett – May 18, 2011

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Good Morning! It’s Wednesday. If you are in need of a Hump Day pick-me-up, head to Northlake Mall for a Hollywood salon experience and a free mini-manicure. Nail stylist to the stars, Katie Cazorla, is bringing a mobile version of her LA nail shop to Charlotte in celebration of her upcoming reality show “Nail Files.” For details click here.

Today, the weatherman is calling for a few more showers with a high of 71°. The sun should come out tomorrow, and temperatures are expected to be in the 80’s this weekend.

Here’s what is brewing in the news this morning:

County considers budget increase

Ouch!

The pain you felt was your county tax bill rising.

Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones recommended a budget Tuesday that could "spare hundreds of teacher jobs, prevent additional libraries from closing and provide some financial boost to county workers," the Charlotte Observer reported.

So far so good, but here's the catch:

The $1.39 billion plan also would lead to bigger county tax bills for about 57 percent of Mecklenburg households. The average tax paid on a single-family home in Mecklenburg would increase 13.6 percent, according to an Observer analysis.

Question: With gasoline inching toward $4 a gallon and prices rising for college tuition and various consumer goods, are you willing to pay more to fund local government. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Note: Commissioners aren't expected to pass a final budget until June, but as Observer reporter April Bethea noted, "Traditionally, the board doesn't make many changes to Jones' recommendation."

Read more at the Charlotte Observer
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Education in Black & White

Four white teachers in Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit claiming that a black principal told them they could not effectively teach black students, according to Thegrio.com.

The teachers, who work at a predominantly black elementary school, allege that a former principal had them read an article that said "white teachers do not have the ability to teach African-American students," according to the lawsuit.

They also claim the principal and others undermined their work by reprimanding them, randomly changing their room assignments and forcing them to follow rules that black teachers were permitted to disregard.

Tell us what you think. Are white teachers less effective in teaching black students? Speak out in the comment section below.

Read more at The Grio.
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Charlotte Presby ends gay ban

The Presbytery of Charlotte added its support Tuesday to ending the ban on gays and lesbians becoming clergy and lay leaders in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

The denomination's constitution includes an amendment that says the ordained must either be single and chaste or in a heterosexual marriage. Presbyterian church leaders from the seven-county Charlotte region voted 162-154 to change that.