MONROE – Union County Public Schools is seeking a $174,258,414 appropriation from the county to support its 2027 fiscal year budget.
This would represent an increase of $8,398,999 to local funding.
Chief Finance Officer Shanna McLamb explained to the Union
County Board of Education on April 14 how UCPS has limited information from the state.
Without a state budget, the district has had to adjust by making assumptions about topics like anticipated state salary increases, health insurance costs and retirement rates.
“We are requesting funding from the county based on assumptions from the state level of what the need might be,”
MONROE – A Parkwood High School teacher faces weapons charges after deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office found a gun in his vehicle and a knife in his storage closet.
Deputies responded to a tip about a strong marijuana odor inside the building before students arrived. They traced the odor to a chemistry classroom assigned to Gerald Wade Morton Jr.
A drug recognition expert evaluated Morton, determining that he showed signs of impairment, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies searched the
by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
WAXHAW – The Town of Waxhaw will be installing Bernardo Benelli’s artwork this summer in a hightraffic area, so to speak, at the entrance of Kensington Elementary School.
Bernardo’s design will be painted on two crosswalks at the intersection of H.C. Nesbit Park Road and Bridgewick Road.
“This intersection receives a lot of pedestrian traffic from kids and families walking to school and people walking to the H.C. Nesbit Park,” according to Sarah Klapprodt, chair of the Waxhaw Public Art
classroom, finding a black bookbag inside the storage closet. Inside was a sealed amount of hemp within the legal limit, drug paraphernalia, a police badge from another jurisdiction and a small dagger-style knife with a clip that belonged to his son, according to the sheriff’s office.
They also searched Morton’s vehicle, finding a loaded 9mm handgun in the center console but no drugs, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials said the vehicle’s window was partially opened and the vehicle had a strong odor of marijuana.
McLamb said. “But until some of these numbers start shoring up – and we’ll continue to refine the numbers – there could be some changes.”
McLamb estimated that UCPS could lose $10.1 million in state funding. The biggest drivers are a decrease in enrollment and the loss of supplemental funds for teacher compensation due to county wealth.
Enrollment is measured by
Committee. “The public art committee wanted to add some public art to this intersection while also drawing attention to the crossing areas for the pedestrians.”
The Waxhaw Public Art Committee held a contest for Kensington Elementary students in third, fourth and fifth grades to design artwork that could go on the crosswalks. They could work within a theme of nature, sports or school pride but they couldn’t use words, 3D images or traffic-related colors.
“We’re excited to have this partnership with Kensington Elementary and to have the opportunity to showcase our talented student artists here in
Deputies arrested Morton on charges of possession of a firearm on educational property, possession of a weapon (non-firearm) on educational property and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a $10,000 secured bond and met the conditions of his release.
Retired NYPD Officer loves working in Waxhaw
WAXHAW – The Town of Waxhaw presented animal control officer Kenneth Wall with a Service Award on April 14 for five years of employment.
Police Chief Dexter Wilson
UCPS copes with budget challenges
average daily membership.
UCPS tallied an ADM of 41,423 students in 2024, the highest total since 2017. ADM fell to 40,929 in 2025 and 39,880 in 2026.
“We have to right-size for the coming year,” McLamb said.
“With our enrollment dropping, we have got to make staffinglevel adjustments for the coming school year, knowing that we will not have the same level of student enrollment.”
Crosswalks to display art
Waxhaw,” Klapprodt said.
The Waxhaw Public Art Committee considered more than 30 student submissions, selecting Bernardo's schooland sports-infused design.
Klapprodt said the project will take about a week to complete. It will be a community build project over the summer.
Bernardo, a fourth-grader, was recognized for his work during the April 14 town board meeting. Assistant Principal Samantha Gabriel was among supporters in attendance.
“That was a really great representation of school and fun put together,” Commissioner Susanna Wedra said of the art.
Deputies find gun in high school teacher's vehicle
had the honor of presenting him to the Waxhaw Board of Commissioners, noting how Officer Wall arrived to town after retiring from the New York Police Department.
“With a total of 36 years of law enforcement experience, I’d say we got a good one,” Wilson said. “Anybody who knows Ken knows that Ken is probably one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
The town previously recognized Wall in June 2025 after he earned an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate. Wall kept his remarks short
McLamb also shared a concern that UCPS won’t qualify for annual supplemental funds from the state for certified teachers and instructional staff because Union County’s adjusted taxable real property is above $50.9 billion. If the state doesn’t adjust the threshold to qualify, UCPS is left with two options. The district will have to secure more funding from the county or redirect funding from elsewhere in the budget.
NC budget passes on unknowns to school district
by Andrew Houlihan Superintendent
Over the last six months, we have engaged heavily and received considerable feedback from our stakeholders about our budget and our budget priorities for the coming year.
I really want to thank members of our teacher advisory, our principal advisory, our parent advisory, our student advisory council, as well as members of the board of education for their feedback.
As a reminder, tonight’s (April 14) recommendation is simply that. It’s a recommendation.
The board’s action tonight would be to accept the recommendation. Once that occurs, we will be working together between now and the May board meeting to make any edits or modifications. On May 5, the board will vote to approve the budget (the board approved it April 14). Again, as a reminder, with our budgeting process, the approval of that budget in May is simply the approval of a request of allocation funding to be made from the board of county commissioners to the school system.
In June, the board of county commissioners will decide how much funding to allocate to Union County Public Schools, which we hope will align to the presentation and to the board’s priorities that you’ll hear tonight.
Tonight, you will hear several key themes from Miss McLamb.
Number one, this has been a very complex budget recommendation with a lot of moving parts. There are a lot of unknowns, assumptions and projections to tonight’s recommendation, as there are considerable efforts happening at the local and state level to determine what our local and state budgets will look like.
Number two, a significant priority for this budget recommendation is investing
Sarah Klapprodt, public art chair, showed these images April 14 in a presentation to commissioners. Bernardo Benelli’s artwork will go on the crosswalks. Photos courtesy of the Town of Waxhaw
Superintendent Andrew Houlihan, seen here
Photo courtesy of
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Leaders want guardrails for data centers
CHARLOTTE – Planning
Director Monica Holmes told the Charlotte City Council on April 13 that it may be three to six months before staff brings them recommendations for regulating data centers.
Members of the council expressed concerns about the environmental impacts data centers can have on a community, especially if they are located close to residential areas.
The issue came up as the council was discussing community area plans. The council approved seven area plans in November and deferred the rest until March, giving staff time to collect more feedback from residents. The council not only adopted the remaining seven area plans but revised the ones already approved to reflect the feedback. One of the changes addressed community concerns about data centers.
The recommendation reads:
“To ensure new development trends are compatible with existing neighborhoods, the city should establish guidance for new and emerging land uses, such as data centers, to ensure appropriate location and design.”
Council Member Dimple Ajmera said a concern that constantly comes up at every meeting is the need for infrastructure to keep up with growth. She identified data centers as a new pressure, especially near nature preserves and residential areas.
“I’ve heard concerns around energy, water usage, quality of life, and these are some valid issues,” Ajmera said. “We need to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to these types of developments, because there is one coming in front of us pretty soon.”
Ajmera asked about the timeline in developing regulations outlined
in the area plans, specifically around data centers. Holmes replied that staff has already been researching data centers.
“We’ve attended several meetings with other cities – top 30 cities – to really understand what other cities are doing, how they’re impacted,” Holmes said. “We’ll be ready to start that work as soon as we close out this work and start bringing before you, with your referral and support, kind of what the next steps are, what does that look like and what are the things we can do within state statute.”
When pressed further by Ajmera for a timeline, Holmes said three to six months for solid recommendations. She added that “the state landscape” is important to the city’s work.
Ajmera encouraged Holmes to explore the possibility of putting a pause on data center proposals until the city approves regulations.
“Because what we are seeing
right now is data centers coming so close to residential neighborhoods,” she said. “We are hearing loud and clear from the community.”
Holmes replied that she would need to consult with the city attorney’s office.
Arias questioned the economic development aspect of such centers when they employ a handful of people.
District 6 Council Member Kimberly Owens encouraged her colleagues to have an open mind about data centers. She mentioned the importance of helping young people as they enter an economy disrupted by AI.
Owens also cautioned colleagues that putting a moratorium on data centers creates the risk of these types of uses going overseas, putting American data in foreign countries.
Charlotte police chief encouraged by quarterly crime stats
CHARLOTTE – Chief Estella
Patterson points to a recent assault investigation in the Cotswold area to convey how collaboration helps keep the community safe.
Officers with the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department responded to a call in the 100 block of South Sharon Amity Road, where they found a woman who had been stabbed in a grocery store parking lot.
CMPD asked for the community’s help in identifying the suspect from surveillance.
Tips led to an arrest.
“It really demonstrates the power of true community collaboration,” Patterson said. Such collaboration has contributed to lower first-quarter crime statistics. The quarter spans from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Patterson said she was encouraged by reductions in key crime areas, including a 23% reduction in overall crime,
in year-over-year comparisons.
CMPD is also reporting decreases in violent crime, property crime, robberies, burglaries, aggravated assaults, vehicle thefts and larceny from autos.
“These reductions are only made possible by the collective efforts of proactive policing strategies and also daily engagement of our residents, businesses and organizations who work alongside us,” she said.
One notable concern was the number of homicides increasing from 16 in the first quarter of 2025 to 22 in the first quarter of 2026. Patterson said 11 were situations where the suspect knew the victim. The relationship was unknown in four cases. Two cases were traffic-related.
“It is important that we acknowledge that these homicides are not just numbers,” Patterson said. “They represent
lives that are lost, families that are grieving and communities that will forever be impacted.
“I want you, the public, to know that we approach this challenge with urgency, with transparency and a commitment to utilizing every single tool we have in our toolbox to help prevent violence from happening. Relying on the community is one of the most impactful tools that we have in law enforcement.”
As far as proactive policing, CMPD has used the Queen City Safe initiative to target areas with heavier crime activity and quality-of-life concerns. Three operations this quarter have led to 425 traffic stops, 139 citations, 70 arrests, 33 seized firearms and about 3,317 grams of suspected illegal narcotics recovered.
There’s also been an increased focus on the Charlotte Area Transit System. Off-duty CMPD officers have staffed 3,741 shifts
REASONS
on CATS transportation. CMPD reports crimes on the CATS Blue Line have decreased by 69% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year.
CMPD is expanding its Community Policing Crisis Response Team. This would add
clinicians to walking patrols in the Central Division to help people experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues.
“We believe that these efforts will reduce repeat calls for service by connecting these individuals to long-term support,” she said.
Chief Estella Patterson said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will coordinate with city and county departments, businesses, property owners and event organizers to ensure officers are visible in public spaces in the warmer months. Photo courtesy of CMPD
Project manager says cost-cutting won't extend Silver Line by much
by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
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-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.”
How we got here
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 longrange 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 the one-penny sales tax. This amounts to a 10-mile project with 16 stations from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to The BOPlex.
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 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.
Want to help?
One of the questions that emerged from the virtual public meeting was how someone can become more involved in advocating for the LYNX Silver Line as a Union County resident. Mock suggested engaging with representatives on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization.
UNKNOWNS
(continued from page 1A)
in our employees. We are one of the highestperforming school systems in the nation, and in order to maintain that high performance, we have got to continue to increase compensation for our employees to remain competitive, not just for our current teachers and staff, but for future educators as well. Compensation increases are a significant aspect of that effort, and we must advocate locally and at the state level for increases in pay for our current and future employees.
Third, another priority you’re going to hear about tonight is continuing to support the needs of our students and increasing the needs of the school system as a whole. We must continue to increase funding for our exceptional children’s program, as well as establishing a nurse in every school. In addition, our recommendation
SAFETY
(continued from page 1A)
and sweet.
“I love Waxhaw,” Wall said. “Thank you for making it what it is. I’m just happy to do my part.”
Quick Hits The Waxhaw Police Department provided a police escort April 23 for 99-year-old war veteran Jeff St. Pierre on his way to the Veterans Coffee House.
• Vic Montalvo, of the Waxhaw Police Department, won Union County School Resource
will focus heavily on continuing to support the operating needs of the district – facilities improvements, technology enhancements and transportation needs. A final theme you’ll hear tonight: How will decisions or actions at the state level impact the budget that we will have to implement next year? Again, we certainly hope that the General Assembly will pass a new state budget in this current session and will prioritize employee compensation. If, when and how they do that will have a major impact on how we implement our budget locally into the fall.
Again, I want to thank our stakeholders. Thank you to the board of education for your feedback and support.
Superintendent Andrew Houlihan made these remarks during the Union County Board of Education meeting on April 14.
Officer of the Year.
• WIXE 93.1FM and 1190AM recognized Christy Caskey as Deputy of the Month for April. The Union County Sheriff’s Office presented Justin Logan with the Detention Officer of the First Quarter award.
• Officer Brandon Stanley joined the Union County Sheriff’s Office, where he’ll work in the detention center.
• The Union County Sheriff’s Office tallied 63 arrests (6 DWIs), and 389 traffic stops, from April 19 to 25.
CALENDAR
May 1 Senior Fit Club
Julie Eichler leads a fitness class for older adults (55 and older) at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Registration costs $10-$12. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
10:15-11 a.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw Anniversary Party Home Brew Taproom & Tunes celebrates its five-year anniversary with two nights of music and food trucks. Queen Eats serves food 5-10 p.m. Dual Drive performs 7-10 p.m. The event continues May 2.
5-10 p.m.; 215 S. Main St., Monroe
Food Truck Fridays The Town of Weddington kicks off its Food Truck Friday series. The event combines food with music and games. townofweddington. com
5:30-8:30 p.m.; 1924 Weddington Road, Weddington
Trivia Night MOR Events & Entertainment hosts a Trivia Night around the theme of “Star Wars” at Middle James Brewing. middlejamesbrewing.
com
7-9 p.m.; 115 E. North Main St., Waxhaw 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
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
May 2 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. 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
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
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
Anniversary Party Home Brew Taproom & Tunes celebrates its five-year anniversary with the second night of music and food trucks. House Hatch BBQ serves food 4-10 p.m. Mikey Black & Dougie Plant perform 4-6 p.m. followed by Lunch
Money at 7 p.m.
4-10 p.m.; 215 S. Main St., Monroe
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
Mahjong Indian Trail Parks & Recreation invites older adults (55 and older) to play Mahjong at Indian Trail Town Hall. itsparksandrec.com
9 a.m.-noon; 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail
Senior Fit Club
Julie Eichler leads a fitness class for older adults (55 and older) at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Registration costs $10-$12. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
9:30-10:15 a.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw
Yin Yoga Waxhaw Parks & Recreation offers a Yin Yoga class for adults at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Bring a blanket. Registration costs $12-$15. Register in advance at waxhaw. com.
11-11:45 a.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw
Line Dancing Beginners can get the steps down during
Line Dancing with Debbie and Donna at Indian Trail Town Hall. The class costs $5. Register in advance at itsparksandrec.com.
6:30-7:30 p.m.; 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail
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
Walking Club
The Waxhaw Walking Club meets at the Duncan McDonald House and walks two to three miles through downtown. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
8-9 a.m.; 115 McDonald St., Waxhaw
Toddler Time
Children ages 2-5 exercise, dance and move during Toddler Time at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Registration costs $5-$7. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
10-11 a.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw
Chair Volleyball
Older adults (55 and older) play chair volleyball at Carolina Courts. itsparksandrec. com
10-11:30 a.m.; 240 Chestnut Pkwy., Indian Trail
Senior Card Club
Older adults play cards during Senior Card Club at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
1:30-3 p.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw
Music Bingo
MOR Events & Entertainment hosts Music Bingo at Middle James Brewing. middlejamesbrewing.com
6-8 p.m.; 115 E. North Main St., Waxhaw
Music Trivia
Big Pop Trivia hosts DJ games at The Trail House. bigpoptrivia.com
7-9 p.m.; 6751 Old Monroe Road, Indian Trail
May 6 Mat Pilates Waxhaw Parks & Recreation offers a Mat Pilates class for adults at the Waxhaw Recreation Barn. Registration costs $12-$15. Register in advance at waxhaw.com.
8:30-9:15 a.m.; 5412 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw
IT’s GameTime Older adults (55 and older) enjoy cards and games at Indian Trail Town Hall. itsparksandrec. com
9 a.m.-noon;
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.”
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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
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.
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
they created
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% tax increase. And these are people that want to sit on this board and don’t understand that we did not give a 60% increase on their property taxes.
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.
