Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education called an emergency meeting April 24 to make May 1 a teacher workday due to not having enough substitutes to cover for staff taking the day off for a political rally in Raleigh.
Chief Human Resources Officer Angie Wood told the school board that the number of unfilled absences for May 1 was
WHAT'S INSIDE:
2 cents
CATS looking for input on fare changes, 3A
on
Get
1,934 and growing. This eclipses the previous high mark for unfilled absences for the 2025-26 year at 560.
“I’m bringing this motion forward because on May 1 thousands of educators from across North Carolina, including many of our own CMS teachers, will be marching in Raleigh as part
CHARLOTTE – Averitt plans to build a new regional campus near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
The expansion will allow the Tennessee-based transportation and supply chain management company to more than double its Charlotte workforce, adding an additional 211 associates over the next four years, with an average annual wage of $81,769.
The development, on just over 100 acres in a commercial area on Shopton Road, will serve as
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Area Transit System will not be able to extend the LYNX Silver Line to Matthews through cost-cutting alone, according to senior project manager Andrew Mock.
His team has been researching valueengineering options since the fall to help extend the line east of Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium. They’ve only identified about $260 million to $330 million worth of cost savings from a $3.3 billion budget to build the line from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to The BOPlex.
“We do not see any way through just cost-
home to Averitt’s entire regional operation, a single, integrated campus that brings together all five of the company’s service units: less-than-truckload, truckload, dedicated, distribution and fulfillment and integrated services.
“This Charlotte expansion represents one of the most exciting and distinctive facility investments in Averitt’s 55-year history; it will be unlike any other Averitt location in the country,” said Barry Blakely, president
of North Carolina Association of Educators Kids Over Corporations Rally,” at-large member Liz Monterrey Duvall said. “As the stakes are real, North Carolina still ranks 43rd in the nation for teacher pay. The state still has no budget, which means no raises, no new funding and by 2030, the corporate income tax phases out entirely, threatening the very revenue that funds our schools.”
Beth Thompson, chief strategy and innovation officer for
How we got here
Rally prompts unfilled absences at CMS
CMS, said the district was still compliant with state requirements for instructional hours and board policy. The change doesn’t affect CMS’s early and middle college, UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College academic calendars.
“I understand that the concerns by parents, administrators and teachers in making this decision, particularly from a parent aspect,” board chair Stephanie Sneed said. “Trust that we didn’t make this decision lightly, which
is somewhat of the reason why, once we saw the trends, we tried to make sure the decision was made in enough advance notice to ensure that arrangements can be made for appropriate child care.
"However, this is a greater issue that we have been dealing with for quite some time in terms of funding for our schools."
Cost-cutting won't extend train by much
cutting strategies alone where we can make it to Matthews, just through value engineering or project changes,” Mock said during an April 23 virtual public meeting. “There may be other ways that could be looked at, and maybe there’s ways through additional funding, but that’s not what we currently see at the moment as far as cost savings.”
For many years, people have known about the Silver Line through its “locally preferred alternative.” On paper, the project spans 29 miles with 30 stops from Belmont to Indian Trail. Mock describes it as a big picture vision.
“That’s the project that, if we didn’t have financial constraints, we would be pursuing,” Mock said.
Mecklenburg County voters approved a one-penny sales tax referendum last year to fund long-range transportation projects. State legislators put stipulations on how the county spends its sales tax revenue, capping the percentage that can be spent on light rail. Local leaders also committed to prioritize the LYNX Red Line project in the Lake Norman area. These actions didn’t leave enough money projected to complete the Silver Line’s locally preferred alternative.
“Financial issues are a real issue for us to resolve,” Mock said.
CATS created a “minimum operable segment” based on what it can afford with
Transportation logistics firm plans to double Charlotte workforce
and chief operating officer at Averitt. “We’ve been searching for several years to find the perfect location to establish this type of presence in the Carolinas, and what better place than in Charlotte, a growing logistics hub with an outstanding talent base, strategic location and expanding infrastructure.”
Construction on the campus is expected to begin immediately and be completed in 2028. The development could top more than $200 million when fully built.
“We appreciate Averitt’s large investment in Charlotte,” said Mayor Vi Lyles. “It’s encouraging when companies recognize that advantage and choose to grow with us.
Charlotte’s momentum across industries reflects intentional planning and the strength of our business community.”
New positions will include local and over-the-road drivers, dock associates, diesel mechanics, sales, administrative support and other logistics
professionals. According to the company, a significant number of the new positions will not require a college or advanced degree and will be supported by on-the-job training, leadership development tracks and clear advancement opportunities.
The new campus will replace the 40,000-square-foot service center Averitt currently operates at 3708 Westinghouse Blvd. with 182 full-time associates. Averitt opened its first Charlotte office in 1987.
The LYNX Silver Line is a light rail project similar to the LYNX Blue Line that runs through South End to the University City area. Photo courtesy of CATS
by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
Monterrey Duvall
Sneed
see SILVER LINE, Page 3A
Gem Awards celebrate preservation, restoration
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Museum of History will honor the winners of the annual Charlotte Gem Awards on May 14 at the museum’s premier fundraising event.
The awards celebrate the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, as well as excellence in history education, across the greater Charlotte region.
Dorothy “Dot” Counts-Scoggins will be the featured speaker and recipient of the 2026 Charlotte Gem Award in recognition for her lifelong dedication to enriching the lives of others.
She began her journey in 1957, at age 15, as one of four African American students to desegregate Charlotte Schools, helping to change the inequality of education locally and across the country.
Following that experience, she committed her life to ensuring that all children receive a quality education, regardless of their race, religion and culture.
The museum will also honor District III of the Daughters of the American Revolution with their second annual Keystone Award. Knowing that the museum does not operate alone with this important work, this award acknowledges other organizations who have made a commitment to preservation and history education and complement the museum’s mission.
2026 Gem Award winners:
PRESERVATION
Commercial Preservation
Award: The Carolina Theatre
• Residential Preservation Award: The Mayor of Myers Park
• Preservation Special Project Award: Tommy Warlick, "Cemetery Headstone Cleanings Special Project"
EDUCATION
• Excellence in Public History
Education Award: Professor Jasmine Corbett-Warren, Johnson C. Smith University, “CommunityEngaged Public History Education in the Classroom and Beyond”
• Rising Scholar in Public History Award: Michelle Lemere, “Garinger High School: A History”
• Excellence in Public History
Honorable Mention: Dr. Hasan Crockett, Livingstone College, “Community Voices, and Future Implications”
• Rising Scholar in Public History Honorable Mention: Peter J. Ferdinando, “UNC Charlotte: Growth to R1”
KEYSTONE AWARD
• District III, Daughters of the American Revolution
CHARLOTTE GEM AWARD
• Dorothy “Dot” Count-Scoggins
“By shining a light on successful preservation projects and educational efforts that tell the story of who we are, the Charlotte Gem Awards inspire our community to value, protect and invest in our shared history,” said Terri L. White, president and CEO of the museum.
“These honorees demonstrate how preserving places and amplifying stories can strengthen community identity, foster connection and encourage others to save our historic built environment. We are proud to celebrate our winners’ impact and invite the community to join us in supporting this important work.”
The Charlotte Gem Awards will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive. Tickets cost $150. Buy them at charlottemuseum.org/ events/gem.
Proceeds support the museum’s mission to save and share Charlotte’s history. This includes the preservation of Charlotte’s oldest home, the 1774 Alexander Rock House, and its Revolutionaryera homesite, plus preservation of the historic Siloam School, one of Mecklenburg County’s oldest remaining African American schoolhouses and the only Rosenwald-era school in the county interpreted as a historic site.
REASONS
3.
The Mayor of Myers Park won the Residential Preservation Award through the Charlotte Gem Awards. Below are shots of the foyer and rear bedroom suite. Photos courtesy of Charlotte Museum of History
CATS collecting input on fare modernization
CHARLOTTE
– The Charlotte Area Transit System invites the public to provide feedback on proposed Fare Modernization Program changes developed through its Comprehensive Fare Study.
A formal public comment period will remain open through May 7, with a public hearing to be held by the Metropolitan Transit Commission on May 7.
The proposed changes are the result of a Comprehensive Fare Study that evaluated current fare policies, payment options and customer needs.
The study focused on modernizing fare payment technology, simplifying the fare structure and improving the overall
Silver Line
(continued from page 1A)
the one-penny sales tax. This amounts to a 10-mile project with 16 stations from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to The BOPlex.
Mock described a service plan from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. with 10-minute peak frequency and 15- to 20-minute off-peak frequency.
The PAVE Act is the legislation that authorized Mecklenburg County to pursue a bond for the one-cent sales tax to pay for road, rail and bus projects. The legislation also required local leaders to find opportunities to extend the Silver Line east and ways to make the project less expensive by July 1.
Where we are now
Mock shared findings from the value engineering study required by the PAVE Act during a virtual public meeting on April 23. He said the value engineering strategies fall into two buckets:
Infrastructure design changes – These include $120 million to $160 million worth of engineering tweaks that don’t change the scope of the project, such as changing
customer experience while maintaining equity, affordability and access.
To share the study’s recommended improvements, CATS implemented public engagement in January and February, including an online survey, a program website and presentation, five public meetings, a virtual meeting and community pop-ups throughout the service area.
This public comment period provides an additional opportunity for the community to share feedback on the proposed changes before they are considered for adoption by the MTC. All comments received during this period will be reviewed and summarized for the MTC’s consideration.
MTC Public Hearing
The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. May 7 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center to allow the public to provide verbal comments on the proposed changes. The hearing will be live streamed on the CATS YouTube channel.
How to Participate
The public may review the proposed changes at charlottenc.gov/CATS/FaresPasses/Fare-Modernization-Program and submit comments through these methods: Online public comment form available in English and Spanish
• Email: CATSfarestudy@publicinput.
bridge lengths or reducing roadway construction.
• Project definition options – These include $140 million to $170 million worth of changes that will require public feedback because they involve removing stations or shifting alignment.
“If that alignment changes much, then we want to make sure that we’re clearly communicating because that has impacts to real estate, developments and communities, for sure,” he said.
Mock identified five strategies from the project definition options bucket: Consolidate the Remount and Berryhill stations ($10 million to $11 million) Remove the Summit station
($11 million to $12 million)
• Shift the alignment to the north side of 11th Street ($60 million to $70 million)
Remove the First Ward station ($45 million to $50 million)
Shift the alignment to the front side of Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium ($20 million to $30 million) “We think that these strategies are good for us to evaluate no matter what,” Mock said. “We think that there’s benefits to the overall concept of extending them and benefits the project to make it more competitive for federal funding.”
He said any trade-offs from these strategies are
manageable.
Where we are going
While extending the Silver Line to Matthews can’t be done through value engineering alone, Mock sees opportunity to possibly stretch the line an extra station or two.
“We don’t have full confidence in that yet,” he said. “I think we need to do more study and some more evaluation and conversation. But we do think we’re relatively close to getting there, and we’re not prepared at the moment to make a recommendation to that, but that’s something that we’ll be talking with our leadership and with our board as we move forward.”
Beyond the $3.3 billion minimum operable segment, Mock said it would cost another $400 million to extend the line to Sharon Amity Road, $800 million to Conference Drive, $1.7 billion to Matthews Township Parkway and $2.4 billion to Central Piedmont Community College’s Levine Campus in Matthews.
Mock intended to get feedback from the public through May before taking the value engineering recommendations to elected officials in May or June.
com Written mail: CATS Fare Modernization Study, 600 E. 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Fare Study Hotline: 704-496-4861
• Verbal testimony at the May 7 public hearing (call 704-353-1794 to sign up)
CATS launched the Comprehensive Fare Study about 18 motnhs ago. The study included a comprehensive review of the existing fare structure and policies and identified recommendations to improve how customers pay for transit, ensuring the system continues to meet community needs as it grows.
"The study determined it
"That would require another significant tax hike. In other words, it’s very unlikely that it will ever happen.
"Even though they’ve done a lot of value engineering, they’ve eliminated or discussed eliminating some stations and charging for naming rights and things like that, they’re simply not going to make up $2.4 billion with a 'b.'
"Unless there’s some new funding mechanism in the future, we will not be seeing light rail in Matthews for the next 30 years.
"I have requested that in light of that, we take priority with bus stop enhancements and microtransit efforts here in Matthews since we’re not getting light rail like most of the rest of the county apparently will."
would cost $2.4 billion to (extend the Silver Line) from Bojangles Coliseum out to CPCC Levine.
John Higdon Matthews Mayor
This chart, taken from a spring 2025 presentation, gives specifics on the LYNX Silver Line's locally preferred alternative. Photo courtesy of
CALENDAR
May 1
Homeschool Fair
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library hosts a Homeschool Resource Fair at Pineville Library. Vendors offer curriculum, programs and other tools. cmlibrary.org/locations/Pineville
1-3 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
First Fridays
Handcraftedmarketclt presents First Fridays in Downtown Pineville. These monthly events include a pop-up shop, food trucks and music. handcraftedmarketclt.net
5-9 p.m.; 303 Main St., Pineville.
Bike Night Independence Harley-Davidson offers live music, food trucks and giveaways during Bike Night. independenceharley.com
6-9 p.m.; 9205 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews
Movie Night
Rea Farms screens an outdoor movie. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. reafarmsclt.com
7-9 p.m.; 9855 Sandy Rock Place, Charlotte
Community Theater
Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts presents “The Velveteen Rabbit” from April 24 to May 3 at the Matthews Community Center. The play, presented in one act, is recommended for ages 8 and older. Adult tickets range from $16 to $20. Seniors, military, students and children pay special rates. matthewsplayhouse.com
7:30 p.m.; 100 E. McDowell St., Matthews
Comedy Show Comedian Chelsea Handler brings The High and Mighty Tour to Ovens Auditorium. Buy tickets at boplex.com.
8 p.m.; 2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte
May 2
Family Storytime
Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at Pineville Library. Get a ticket at the front desk 15 minutes before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Pineville
10-10:30 a.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Paws in the Park The Town of Indian Trail hosts Paws in the Park at Crooked Creek Park. The festival includes pet-themed activities and vendors. indiantrail.org
10 a.m.-1 p.m.; 5900 Oakwood Lane, Indian Trail
Pop-Up Market
The Bowl Street Pop-Up Market features handmade goods and other creations from the community at The Bowl at Ballantyne.
10 a.m.-3 p.m.; 15119 Bowl St., Charlotte
Fetching Fun Festival Mint Hill Events hosts the Fetching Fun Festival at Mint Hill Founders Park. minthillevents.org
10 a.m.-4 p.m.; 9801 Brief Road, Mint Hill
Author Event Children’s authors Bea Birdsong, Maya Myers and Kimberly Wilson read from their books during a Story Time at Park Road Books. parkroadbooks.com
10:30-11:30 a.m.; 4139 Park Road, Charlotte
Comic Books Mac’s Heroes and Villains observes Free Comic Book Day with free comics and discounts for customers dressed as superheroes. macsheroesandvillains.com
11 a.m.; 11229 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews
Paws to Read Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog for 15 minutes during Paws to Read at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/ SouthPark-Regional
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte
Outdoor Music Garrett Huffman performs music during the Spring Music on the Green series at Blakeney Town Center.
Noon-2 p.m.; 9830 Rea Road, Charlotte
Paws to Read
Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog during Paws to Read at South County Regional Library. Kids read for 15 minutes. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/south-county-regional.
2-3 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte
Community Theater
Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts presents “The Velveteen Rabbit” from April 24 to May 3 at the Matthews Community Center. The show at 2 p.m. May 2 is a sensory performance. The play, presented in one act, is recommended for ages 8 and older. Adult tickets range from $16 to $20. Seniors, military, students and children pay special rates. matthewsplayhouse.com
2 or 7:30 p.m.; 100 E. McDowell St., Matthews
May 3
Community Theater
Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts presents “The Velveteen Rabbit” from April 24 to May 3 at the Matthews Community Center. The play, presented in one act, is recommended for ages 8 and older. Adult tickets range from $16 to $20. Seniors, military, students and children pay special rates. matthewsplayhouse.com
2 p.m.; 100 E. McDowell St., Matthews
May 4
Family Storytime
Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at South County Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/ locations/south-county-regional
10-10:30 or 11-11:30 a.m.; 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte
Comedy Night
Craig Collin hosts the Temple of Laughs Comedy Night & Open Mic at Carolina Beer Temple. Matt Barrentine and Devante Brown are featured performers. Sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m. carolinabeertemple.com
7 p.m.; 215 N. Ames St., Matthews
May 5
Family Storytime Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional
10:15-10:45 or 11-11:30 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte
Creating with Books
Preschool children listen to stories and do hands-on activities around the theme of emotions during Creating with Books at Pineville Library. Get a ticket 15 minutes prior to the event. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Pineville
2-2:45 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Preschool Storytime
Preschool children listen to stories during Preschool Storytime at Park Road Park. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional.
3-3:45 p.m.; 6220 Park Road, Charlotte
Craft & Connect
Adults work on crafts and meet new people during Craft & Connect at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional.
6-7 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte
Book Club
The Banned Book Book Club discusses “Carrie” by Stephen King at Park Road Books. parkroadbooks.com
6:30-7:30 p.m.; 4139 Park Road, Charlotte
Trivia Night MOR Events & Entertainment presents a trivia night at Middle James Brewing. Get tickets at eventbrite.com. middlejamesbrewing.com
7-9 p.m.; 400 N. Polk St., Pineville
Spring Concert
The Matthews Concert Band performs its Spring Concert at Matthews Community Center. The theme of the concert is Sesquicentennial Celebration
in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. matthewsconcertband.org
7:30-8:30 p.m.; 100 E. McDowell St., Matthews
May 6
Farmers Market The Ballantyne Farmers Market offers a rotating selection of prepared foods, flowers, honey, eggs and other locally sourced products at Brixham Park. The market will be held on the first Wednesday of the month in the spring and fall.
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 15810 Ballantyne Medical Place, Charlotte
Family Storytime Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional 10:15-10:45 or 11-11:30 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte
May 7 Paws to Read Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog during Paws to Read at South County Regional Library. Kids read for 15 minutes. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/south-county-regional 5-6 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte
Paws to Read Children ages 5-11
PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION
FEATURE IMPACT
Despite the best of intentions, it’s common for plans to build healthier habits to fall flat. Often, the culprit isn’t a lack of motivation or discipline; rather, it’s unrealistic expectations.
Overhauling your lifestyle requires a level of commitment that isn’t always practical. Understanding your personal health needs and the challenges you need to overcome can help give you a more realistic roadmap toward better health.
Tools to Guide You
Every plan needs a starting point and there are many reputable sources that can help guide you toward a plan that addresses your personal health needs. For example, the American Heart Association introduced My Life Check, a simple, free tool to help individuals understand their heart health and what’s driving it. Users answer simple questions about their daily habits and health factors to get a personalized Heart Health Score in minutes. The results are private and downloadable, giving you full control of your information. The tool turns big goals into small, specific actions you can start right away. Knowing your numbers relative to your heart health (and where you are in comparison to target ranges for optimal health) can help you decide how to build a better map to get you where you want to be.
While the report is customized to each individual, no personal data is stored and answers are only used to calculate health scores and provide personalized recommendations and practical steps to improve your health, so you can use your results to focus on what matters most to you. Every small step you take, such as moving more, eating smarter, sleeping better or managing stress, can add up over time.
Finding Your Path
Once you’re armed with data and know where you stand on your heart health numbers, small steps become clearer and more manageable. That knowledge makes it easier to choose one area to focus on, such as getting more sleep, taking daily walks or adding more color to your meals.
Healthy changes don’t need to be expensive or complicated. The best habits are ones that fit real life when every action you take moves you closer to your goals.
Staying motivated and on track is also easier when you can check back in, see your progress and realize the steps you’re taking are making an impact. Checking in every few months to see how you can grow gives you the chance to celebrate your progress, learn from challenges and keep building lasting habits that feel good. To get started with personalized tips to set your own health goals, visit heart.org/mylifecheck.
DINING SCORES
n Dedicate 15 minutes at the beginning or end of the day to focus on self-care, whether it’s unwinding with some music, writing down your goals or reflecting on the highlights of the day.
n Aim to add an extra serving of fruits or veggies each
n
Lawmakers explore halting reval changes
by Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Sen. Phil Berger, eight weeks after an upset loss in the Republican primary bid for his 14th term, on April 28 called for a statewide moratorium on all property tax revaluation changes in 2026.
The Senate president pro tempore filed Property Tax Reappraisal Moratorium, known also as Senate Bill 889, with a goal of giving the General Assembly additional time for proposals on property tax reform.
“Residents across North
Carolina are seeing their property values skyrocket after revaluations, and it’s imperative that the General Assembly take a thoughtful approach to address property tax concerns,” Berger said in a release. “This approach gives residents some certainty on their tax bills while allowing policymakers ample time to put forward proposals to rein in property tax increases.”
In December, House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, introduced the Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform, bringing together eight Democrats with 15 Republicans
led by Julia Howard of Davie County, Erin Paré of Wake County and Mitchell Setzer of Catawba County.
Berger did a similar move Feb. 3, choosing 10 Republican senators spread over every region of the state to examine and recommend property tax reforms.
“Out-of-control property taxes is an affordability issue,” Paré said. “High property taxes can make home ownership out of reach for hard-working North Carolinians and force seniors on a fixed income out of their homes because they can’t afford sky-rocketing property taxes.
Rep. Cunningham to finish term as an independent
by Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Saying her constituents come before party affiliation, a North Carolina state representative has exited the Democratic Party.
Rep. Carla Cunningham, in her seventh term representing a portion of Charlotte, on April 24 changed to unaffiliated.
She was defeated in the Democratic Primary for District 106 by the Rev. Rodney Sadler 70%-21.8%, with Vermanno Bowman third (8.3%).
“I have been a Democrat all my life, but I came to realize that I want to serve the people, not a party,” Cunningham said in a statement. “Being an independent thinker does not align with party politics, and I will never compromise the needs of my constituents to satisfy a political agenda.”
Republicans have 71 of the 120 seats in the House of Representatives. Cunningham voted with Republicans at passage and override of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein on The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act (House Bill 318); Limit Rules with Substantial Financial Costs (House Bill 402); The Power Bill Reduction Act (Senate Bill 266); and Personal Privacy
Protection Act (Senate Bill 416).
Cunningham also voted to override Charter School Changes (Senate Bill 254). She had an excused absence the evening of June 25 at passage.
Stein endorsed Sadler over Cunningham in their primary. Sadler doesn’t have an opponent in November.
Also in her statement Cunningham reiterated her support for country first.
“We have a moral obligation to place the needs of struggling Americans above all competing agendas, including policies that would extend the resources and protections of this government to those who have entered this country unlawfully, at the expense of citizens who have long been underserved,” she said.
N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham made national news when she switched parties from Democrat to Republican in 2023.
Three Robeson County commissioners, New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon, and former 6th District Democratic Party Chairwoman Sabrina Berry have also made the switch.
On Feb. 11, 2023, Anderson Clayton was elected chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Today, Clayton leads a party with 97,619 fewer registrations than when she took over.
The unaffiliated registrations are up 491,294 in that time, and Republicans are up 139,773.
LOUD & LIVE
series
This new committee will work to deliver responsible reforms that balance homeowner affordability with a local government’s ability to meet community needs.”
Property taxes get assessment and collection within each of the state’s 100 counties. Rates vary. For example, Northampton County ($1.206 per $100 value), Edgecombe County ($1.17) and Martin County ($1.15) are on the high end; Jackson (37 cents), Clay and Macon (each 44 cents) counties are on the lower end.
The Finance Committee in the Senate was to hear the proposal on April 29. Sens. Brent Jackson,
R-Sampson, and Steve Jarvis, R-Davidson, sponsored the bill with Berger.
“As a former county commissioner, I’ve seen how the revaluation process can take a substantial toll on residents who receive an unexpected increase in their property value,” Jarvis said. “This moratorium is the first step in addressing astronomical property tax bills, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to ensure our residents can keep more of their paychecks in their wallets.”
Rep. Majeed no longer a Democrat
by Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Saying the party left him rather than the other way around, state Rep. Nasif Majeed says he will finish his fourth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives with unaffiliated voter registration.
The longtime Democrat on April 26 became the second House member in three days to switch affiliation. Rep. Carla Cunningham was first on April 24. Both are from the Charlotte area, and each was defeated in Democratic primaries on March 3.
Veleria Levy defeated Majeed 68.6%26.2% in District 99. Tucker Neal (5.3%) was third.
While first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein did not endorse Levy, she did get support from progressive groups Sunrise, Planned Parenthood and UNITE HERE Local 23.
“I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left me,” said Majeed. “It’s not what I’m doing. It’s what they did. There’s a reaction for every
action that was not a positive action.” Republicans have 71 of the 120 seats in the House of Representatives. Democrats have 47 and two seats are now independent.
Majeed said he doesn’t vote with Republicans; rather, his vote is on issues. His vote aligned with them on two of a single-day record eight gubernatorial overrides July 29.
Majeed voted with Republicans at passage and override of a Stein veto on The Power Bill Reduction Act, known also as Senate Bill 266.
Majeed at override voted with Republicans on Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors, known also as House Bill 805. He was one of five with an excused absence in the evening vote of June 25. This is the bill in which North Carolina became the 18th state to essentially codify second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s executive order to recognize only men and women as the two sexes.
“I’ve been a Democrat,” Majeed said. “But what they did during the campaign, they smeared my character, confused my voters. They raised over $1 million to get me defeated. I guess if you go against the status quo, it’s the stuff of consequence.”
CLASSIFIEDS
Sr Sales Rep, Commercial & Specialty Tires, Continental Tire The Americas LLC, Fort Mill, SC. Own the launch process of new Continental Tire products and services for successful integration into our product line. 100% telecomm permitted; candidate may reside anywhere in the US. Int’l travel req. up to 5%; Domestic travel req. up to 50%. Must possess a valid US driver’s license. To apply email resume w/ 241444 in subject line to Recruitment.Tire@conti-na.com.
Systems Analyst - Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Charlotte, NC): Lead design, solutions & delivery of new products, product functionality & enhancements for Individual Retirement Tribe & Group Retirement Tribe. Req. Bachelor’s or for equiv degree Comp Engnrg or rltd fld & 7 yrs of progr post-Bacc exp as Software Engnr or rltd occuptn invl wmA and Vantage - Annuity Life Insurance software dvlpmt. Exp must incl: MFE Express code dvlpr, DSS, Endeavor, Azure DevOps for tracking SCRUM Ceremonies & Cadences, COBOL, JCL, DB2, & VSAM.b40 hrs/wk. Salary is $154,669 - $170,000. Drct applcnts only. Send resm to:TalentAquisition@equitable. com (Ref. GK1732) or search title thr https://equitable.com/about-us/careers. EOE M/F/D/V.
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Residents push back on tax reform resolution
MONROE – As state lawmakers continue to explore property tax reform, Union County commissioners have agreed on a resolution advocating for maintaining local control.
The resolution approved April 20 states that commissioners oppose a one-size-fits-all approach but supports targeted relief measures for older adults as well as disabled residents and veterans.
Commissioners also call on lawmakers to consider putting a constitutional referendum on the ballot authorizing local governments to implement developer impact fees to fund infrastructure, public safety and other services.
The county shared news of the resolution April 28 on Facebook, saying it “highlights Union County’s commitment to fiscal discipline.” But several of the initial comments were critical of the county over a revaluation that raised their property tax bills.
“My taxes went up another TWO GRAND this year,” wrote Krystyn Smith. “These jumps make it so people can lose their homes because their income doesn’t keep up with housing. They could have chosen revenue neutral. They chose a hike!”
Helms: Raleigh lawmakers are
by Brian Helms Union County Commissioner
Ithink we’ve all seen a lot of talk and a lot of buzz right now about property tax reform in the General Assembly.
I feel like it’s important that our board adopt a resolution that signifies the county’s stance on this topic. ... I think I can say with general certainty that no member of this board would support reckless tax increases for the residents of our county and the people that we serve here.
I also want to say, too, that Union County has one of the leanest governments in the state. Our board and our staff are certainly committed to fiscal responsibility, and we’re wise with the use of our tax dollars at every single turn.
We’ve even implemented a strategy and innovation team that in a lot of ways acts as our county DOGE. I think, though, that we have to realize that some local governments are not Union County.
As I understand it, what’s being discussed in Raleigh probably wouldn’t even affect the tax rate that we have here in Union County due to the fact that it’s lower. It would, however, affect a handful of counties that have not necessarily been responsible with tax dollars.
Once again, we’re seeing sort of that one-sizefits-all approach when it comes to legislation from Raleigh, where they look to legislate for 100 counties essentially for the sins of maybe five.
I feel that property tax reform in general may be warranted, but especially in specific circumstances for folks like senior citizens, individuals who are disabled and our military veterans. I’m certainly not opposed to targeted relief. ... I feel strongly that tax decisions, and generally a lot of decisions that we deal with,
trying to solve problems they created
are best left to the government that’s closest to the people.
I believe that Raleigh created many of the problems that we have with property taxes that we see today. It was Raleigh that pushed their funding responsibilities to local governments. Education funding is one of the biggest of these responsibilities that is being slowly funneled to local governments to pick up more and more every single year.
It was Raleigh that has continuously incentivized residential growth throughout Union County and even the rest of the state. That’s residential growth that costs more in services than it brings in tax revenue – growth that doesn’t pay for itself.
It was Raleigh that told local governments to just deal with it or budget better to accommodate that growth that they incentivized that we can’t pay for.
It was Raleigh that ignored the pleas from this board, when we asked for the ability to reserve sewer capacity for much-needed commercial growth to lessen the impact of taxes for the people that we serve.
And it was also Raleigh that decided that impact fees for developers to assist with school funding was unconstitutional. Yet 10 miles down the road in South Carolina, it’s perfectly fine and legal.
And it was also Raleigh that refuses to explore an amendment to allow impact fees to be renewed and restored.
It’s Raleigh that’s created these problems, and now Raleigh wants to offer the solution to the problems that they created, all the while vilifying some local governments who are struggling to keep up with unfunded mandates and to provide the services for the people that they serve.
Union County Commissioner Brian Helms made these remarks during the April 20 board meeting.
Merrell: Leaders didn’t want reval
by Melissa Merrell Union County Commissioner
Sitting on the board with Centralina, I get to hear from many other counties that are really shocked and dismayed with the property tax increases that we’re forced to do from Raleigh for the revals.
Some of us were at a meeting over in the Sun Valley area just last week, and there continues to be misinformation out there that the county is the one who gave them a 60%
on
I just think that the counties, and maybe the municipalities, too, are just easy targets to be blamed for their tax increase, where we didn’t want a reval. We didn’t ask for a reval on all of our properties.
People who sold their homes and the Realtors who listed the homes enjoyed those large sale prices, but the comps affect all of us – the ones that are staying here and haven’t sold and moved.
Union County Commissioner Melissa Merrell made these remarks during the April 20 board meeting.
a more effective and fiscally responsible approach than broad, inflexible limitations that may restrict a county’s ability to provide essential services; and WHEREAS, Union County and similarly situated communities are experiencing continually increasing demands on public infrastructure, schools, emergency services, and public safety resources; and WHEREAS, new growth should contribute to the cost of the infrastructure and public services it requires, rather than placing that
solely on
taxpayers; and WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina currently limits the ability of local governments to implement developer impact fees, restricting a
tool for responsible growth management; and WHEREAS, Union County and other counties throughout the State have experienced unfunded mandates from State and Federal governments that place the obligation to provide additional services and impose additional costs for the same services on County residents without predictable engagement or justification; and WHEREAS, the citizens of North Carolina should be given the opportunity to vote on whether
