Property tax increase for public safety
As part of Charlotte's adopted Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, the City Council approved a 1.89-cent property tax increase explicitly dedicated to enhancing public safety. The budget passed 9-2, with dissenting votes citing opposition to any tax increase. The roughly $1.04 billion General Fund budget represents a 10.7% increase from FY 2026.
Should Charlotte raise property taxes to fund enhanced public safety services?
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Sources
District 7 Councilman Ed Driggs — https://www.wbtv.com/2026/06/09/charlotte-city-council-approves-budget-after-months-debate-including-10-raise-police-fire
There are many people on both sides of the aisle who are fundamentally opposed to a tax increase and I think I have an obligation to them not to support this budget.
City Manager Marcus D. Jones — https://www.charlottenc.gov/City-News/City-of-Charlotte-Adopts-Fiscal-Year-2027-Budget
Proposes a 1.89 cent property tax increase dedicated to enhancing public safety.
Julie Kay — https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-council-passes-budget-with-tax-increase-10-raises-for-police-firefighters/275-34418af1-9789-4676-b7cb-d7583a7e5f08
The nearly $4.5 billion budget plan includes a property tax increase of 1.89 cents.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Raise taxes more than 1.89 cents to fully fund all unmet public safety, housing, and social service needs.
- Support the 1.89-cent increase as a necessary and targeted investment in public safety.
- Accept a smaller tax increase only if paired with spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.
- Freeze property taxes and fund public safety gains by reallocating existing city spending.
- Cut property taxes and require the city to reduce its budget to live within existing revenues.