Mecklenburg County

Cotham Answers Nay-sayers Over Firing With Poll

Lisa Miller — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:27:57 +0000

Mecklenburg County Chairman Pat Cotham has taken a lot of heat for the firing of County Manager Harry Jones last week. So she’s decided to fire back at her nay-sayers by releasing results of a poll she commissioned.

Mecklenburg Not Part Of Bill To Allow Counties To Own Schools

Lisa Miller — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:23:15 +0000

Most of the state’s counties, including Mecklenburg, are no longer included in a bill that would give counties the authority to build, own, and maintain schools. The bill passed out of a senate committee Wednesday, only giving nine counties the option to take over ownership of schools from local school districts. Those counties include Rowan, Wake and Harnett.

Senator Ron Rabin of Harnett County said county commissions are more equipped to handle business deals.

Mecklenburg County Commission Wants More Active Role In Governing

Lisa Miller — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:35:09 +0000

Mecklenburg County commissioners are now looking for a new county manager after they fired Harry Jones Tuesday night. One thing is clear in the shake-up: the new manager won’t have as much autonomy.

County government has had its problems of late. For starters, there was the botched 2011 property revaluation.

Mecklenburg Commissioners Consider Taking Over Ownership Of Schools

Lisa Miller — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:31:34 +0000

A bill introduced in the North Carolina senate would allow counties to take ownership of schools. Some Mecklenburg County commissioners say they would want to own CMS buildings, if that bill passes. That’s put CMS officials on the defensive.

This is how schools get built in North Carolina: Since school districts don’t have taxing authority, voters approve bonds for the construction.

Want To Hear Property Tax Appeals For Little Pay? Time To Apply Is Now

Julie Rose — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 04:33:20 +0000

Mecklenburg County is trying to fill 15 seats on the Board of Equalization and Review. That's the group responsible for hearing property tax appeals. It's a job that comes with a lot of criticism – particularly this last year as the board was inundated with appeals to the flawed 2011 revaluation. So why would anyone want the job?

First off, the hours can be a bear.

Mecklenburg Commissioners And County Staff Get Counseling

Lisa Miller — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:14:43 +0000

The new Mecklenburg County commission and county staff members haven’t gotten off to a good start. Improving that rocky relationship was at the top of the agenda of a three day planning session that kicked off Wednesday.

Commissioners and County Manager Harry Jones are locked in a marriage of sorts. Right now, it’s not a good one. Everyone agrees communication could be a lot better. For that reason, Jones decided the planning session would begin with a sit down.

Uptown Baseball Stadium Now Clear Of Lawsuits

Julie Rose — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:25:57 +0000

The Charlotte Knights baseball stadium now under construction Uptown nearly didn't happen because of Jerry Reese. He's a local attorney who filed a series of lawsuits to block the stadium deal just as the recession hit and funding for the project became harder to find. Reese has now agreed stop fighting the stadium in court.

Jerry Reese is not against having a baseball stadium Uptown – he just thinks it should be for a Major League team, rather than a Minor League one like the Charlotte Knights.

To Re-Do Or Not To Re-Do? Meck Commission Debates Tuesday

Julie Rose — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:20:00 +0000

A growing chorus of Mecklenburg County citizens and elected officials is calling for a complete re-do of the 2011 property tax revaluation. The independent review completed last week found most of the new property values are accurate. But values in a small percentage of neighborhoods – perhaps 10 percent – are significantly out-of-whack, according to the report.

So now what? The Mecklenburg County commission meets Tuesday night at 6 p.m. to discuss.

Revaluation Town Hall Meetings

Tanner Latham — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:07:21 +0000

Persistent complaints about the 2011 property revaluation in Mecklenburg County enters a new phase this week. A private auditor, hired by the county to investigate the revaluation process, will hold a series of six public meetings. The first is Monday night in Matthews.