Charlotte budget hearing: just don't touch the trash

Charlotte residents had their first chance to comment Monday night on the city’s proposed budget, which includes a property tax hike. But most of the speakers focused on something that’s not

in the budget. City Manager Ron Carlee’s recommended budget would raise the property tax rate about 1 percent to pay for more police officers and firefighters. His budget would increase the

water and sewer rate about 4 percent for maintenance. At the city council meeting, no one complained about that. The bulk of speakers, including Scott Wilkerson, were against a potential

backup plan: “Either increasing trash collection fees for one or more classes of city residents,” Wilkerson said, “or through the elimination of trash collection for residents who choose to

live in a multifamily rental apartment.” City officials have floated those options, so Wilkerson and several others from the apartment point-of-view were making a sort of preemptive strike.

Mike O’Sullivan is an advocate with the Homeless Services Network.   “Elimination of garbage collection for apartments will have a direct impact on the most vulnerable citizens of our city,”

he said. O’Sullivan pointed out there’s a shortage of affordable housing in Mecklenburg County, and even small increases add up for low-income renters. A few speakers raised a topic that

was in the budget. They were grateful for the continued funding of The Arts and Science Council, although a board member asked for $300,000 more. The city council will start adjusting the

budget Wednesday afternoon.