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INSIDE ▼ Schools win awards for culture
It’s hard to keep something this big under wraps.
Park Pointe Village
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More to love. Coming soon.
Friday, May 9, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 19
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Budget proposes no property tax increase CHARLOTTE – City Manager Marcus Jones presented his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget May 5 to Mayor Vi Lyles and the Charlotte City Council.
The budget proposes no property tax increase but two other service fee increases: Storm Water Services, which equates to a $0.67 monthly increase for the typical customer, and Water and Sewer, which equates to a $5.47 monthly increase for the
typical customer. “I am pleased to propose a balanced budget that continues to invest in meeting the needs of our community and Team Charlotte,” Jones said. “With this budget, the city is continuing to build on our strong financial foundation to meet the needs of the Charlotte community, advance council’s priorities, and prepare for future growth and opportunities.” The proposed budget will have a public
hearing on May 12, followed by budget adjustments on May 19, straw votes on May 29 and potential adoption by the council on June 9. The 2026 fiscal year begins July 1, 2025. The city provided these highlights of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget: • A structurally balanced budget with a two-year lens that does not increase property taxes, preserves core services and maintains
CATS RECOMMENDS EXTENDING BLUE LINE, IMPROVING BUS SERVICE by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Area Transit System recommends extending the LYNX Blue Line to Pineville, improving bus frequency and expanding microtransit.
Mecklenburg County is trying to put a 1-cent sales tax referendum on an election ballot but pending legislation caps how much of that revenue can be spent on rail projects. CATS has been collecting input from the public and working with elected leaders to update its Transit System Plan to reflect such fiscal constraints. CATS recently introduced four fiscally constrained scenarios for consideration. All four scenarios call for the creation of the LYNX Red Line commuter rail from Uptown to Lake Norman, extensions of the LYNX Gold Line streetcar to Rosa Parks and Eastland, and the implementation of systemwide bus improvements that would increase frequency. The four scenarios diverge when it comes to planned light rail projects serving Pineville, Ballantyne, east Charlotte and Matthews. One scenario called for prioritizing complete buildout of the Blue Line to Ballantyne. Another called for converting light rail extensions to Pineville and Ballantyne into Bus Rapid Transit. But CATS made an official recommendation to the Metropolitan Transit Commission on April 30 to approve the scenario that prioritizes extending the Blue Line extension from the I-485 Station in Charlotte to Carolina Place Mall in Pineville while designating Ballantyne as a future connection. CATS also recommends the Silver Line project be built out from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium with future consideration toward Matthews to the east and Gaston County to the west. Brent Cagle, interim CEO for CATS, said his team heard two major things from their public engagement sessions: enhancing bus service and expanding light rail were important. “That is not a surprise,” Cagle said of light rail. “Over the last 20 years, we have heard
that consistently in Mecklenburg County.” He said the scenario they landed on preserves the ability to build rapid transit corridors with rail while expanding them when possible. While the projects outlined within this scenario are designed to be completed within 30 years, officials say future connections to This chart, taken from a CATS presentation on its transit plan update, Ballantyne and Matthews gives specifics on the LYNX Blue Line extension to Pineville and would be considered as Ballantyne. Photo courtesy of CATS funding allows. Both areas would see enhanced bus service in the meantime. The Metropolitan Transit Commission, which consists mainly of mayors from across the county, is expected to vote on the recommendation later this month. The only pushback on This chart, taken from a CATS presentation on its transit plan update, the plan April 30 came shows how projects within the CATS Transit Plan will be implemented from Matthews Mayor over time. • Routes for South Tryon Street (16) and John Higdon. He wanted to see the light rail in his town prioritized and suggested system- Park Road (19) would be improved to a wide bus improvements be paid for through 15-minute or better frequency. • South Tryon Street (16) would become a another funding source. CATS’s recommendation included a priority bus corridor with signal priority and phased implementation strategy with Better enhanced stops. • Four Express routes would see increased Bus improvements, Red Line service and Silver Line construction starting in the short- frequency with midday service: Steele Creek term. Blue Line, Silver Line and Gold Line (41X), Providence Road (61X), Rea Road (62X) and a new Ballantyne Express to the service are targeted for the mid term. Part of the CATS recommendation in- LYNX Blue Line. • Microtransit would serve areas of south cludes a bullet point to study and evaluate options, including other funding opportu- Charlotte (Ballantyne, Park Crossing, Starmount, Quail Hollow and Steele Creek) and nities, to extend the LYNX Silver Line east. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said that she Pineville (Downtown, Carolina Place Mall, wanted people to understand that the Bet- N.C. 51, Park Road and Atrium Health ter Bus initiative and microtransit are critical Pineville). • South Mecklenburg would also see an exparts of the transit plan. CATS also identified several ways tran- pansion of bus stop amenities, such as shelsit would be improved in south Charlotte, ters, benches or waiting pads. CATS plans to expand and improve bus Pineville and parts of southern Mecklenburg service within the first five years and complete County through the Better Bus program: • All routes in South Mecklenburg capital investments within 10 years. Capital would be improved to 30-minutes or better investment includes improving bus stops and expanding its fleet by 89 new buses. frequency.
MeckMIN to honor Charlotte community leaders By Kristen Anderson Contributor
CHARLOTTE – The Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network will honor three outstanding Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents at its Community Leader Awards Breakfast.
MeckMIN fosters interfaith understanding, trust and collaboration across Mecklenburg County by bringing together individuals, faith communities and organizations. Rooted in the region’s rich religious diversity, MeckMIN promotes compassion, connection and justice in its mission to build an inclusive community where every person is
valued and respected. This year’s event, themed “Together We Rise,” will honor the following individuals whose actions and leadership uplift others and exemplify MeckMIN’s commitment to unity, mutual respect and service across the county: • Glenn M. Smith, recipient of the Sydnor Thompson, Jr. Community Leader Award, for a decades-long career supporting incarcerated individuals, at-risk youth, and their families. As the founder of Life Connections of the Carolinas, Smith has helped hundreds of local families remain united, kept Story continues, see MeckMIN page 3A
Erkham Adiguzel, Hamide Adiguzel, Amee Roome, Meryem Askin and Mustafa Altinok attend the 2024 MeckMIN Community Leaders Breakfast on May 2, 2024, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Photo courtesy of Amee Roome
reserves. • Continues Charlotte’s legacy of affordable cost of service, with the lowest tax rate will remain the lowest among North Carolina’s largest cities in FY 2025. • Establishes the Office of Youth Opportunities to promote economic opportunity and positive youth development for ages 13-24. Story continues, see BUDGET page 3A
Servant’s Heart volunteer honored by Nourish Up
Retired police officer Angie Caroway continues serving the community through volunteer work at nonprofits like Servant’s Heart of Mint Hill and Nourish Up.
Photo courtesy of Mary Beth Foster By Mary Beth Foster Contributor
MINT HILL – Servant’s Heart volunteer Angie Caroway was honored April 26 as the sole recipient of Nourish Up’s 2024 Beverly Howard Award.
Named for Nourish Up’s longtime executive director, the award recognizes an individual or volunteer group who has faithfully served the community by combating hunger through dedicated volunteer service with Nourish Up. Equally important to the duration of the individual’s service is the spirit in which it is done, demonstrating Nourish Up’s core value of dignity and extending hope to people experiencing economic hardship. Like Howard, the recipient must exhibit compassion and heartfelt dedication to the vision, mission and values of Nourish Up. A retired police officer, sergeant and detective with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Caroway began volunteering at Servant’s Heart in fall 2020. At the height of the pandemic, Caroway faithfully volunteered weekly, receiving and stocking donations, packing food and nonfood pantry orders, and distributing client orders, including Nourish Up food boxes, through Curbside Pantry Pickup. Moreover, Caroway volunteers annually with Servant’s Heart’s Seasonal Assistance Programs, like Back2School, Turkey Tuesday and Christmas Assistance. An avid supporter and perpetual advocate for Servant’s Heart, Caroway distinguishes herself with the courtesy and kindness she shows every client with whom she comes in contact. Her support was critical during the pandemic when Servant’s Heart began managing distribution of Food from Loaves and Fishes, one of two long standing Story continues, see SERVANTS HEART page 3A