Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts said Wednesday that she wants the county to send $40 million more to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools next fiscal year.

In a statement sent to the Charlotte Observer, Roberts, said she also wants to send an extra $2.5 million to Central Piedmont Community College and that she backs a plan to increase money to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to avoid closing more branches.

Roberts cited the steady progress that CMS has made over the past three years in reducing the achievement gap as a reason for giving the district more money.

"We risk losing all that and more if we sustain the depth of cuts that CMS faces with level county funding for the next fiscal year, or even with $26 million more as recently recommended by our manager," Roberts wrote.

County Manager Harry Jones recommended giving the district an additional $26 million in his budget recommendations Tuesday night. That amount is a little more than half of the $50 million in additional funding requested by CMS.

Jones also suggested allowing county residents to vote on a tax increase that could benefit the school district. Roberts said Wednesday she wants the county to keep the property tax rate flat.

For the third time since 2008, Mecklenburg commissioners could also consider asking voters to decide whether they want a quarter-cent increase in the local sales tax. It isn't clear if the issue will make it to the ballot.

Under Jones’ recommended budget plan, some programs helping seniors and children of inmates could lose most of their money, while job training charities will get a boost.

Tonight, the county will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. to receive citizen input on the county's recommended budget. The hearing will be held at the Government Center located at 600 East Fourth St. Nearly 50 people already have pre-registered to speak.

Read more at the Charlotte Observer
Related commentary: We love our libraries, but can we still afford them?
 

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