nside Charlotte’s FY2026 Budget Hearing: Air Conditioning, Animal Shelters, and the $25-an-Hour Question
By Nell Thomas | Strolling Ballantyne
The room smelled faintly of wet umbrellas, paper coffee cups, and municipal tension. Councilmember LaWana Mayfield hadn’t even sat down before she drew first blood: “This city isn’t world-class until our workers are paid like it.”
The May 12 public hearing for Charlotte’s FY2026 budget was less a formal review and more a Southern town revival—complete with testimony, righteous indignation, and the occasional pastry wrapper rustling in the background. Nearly three dozen speakers—firefighters, teenagers, shelter volunteers, and policy wonks—stepped to the mic with prepared statements and unfiltered frustration.
Big Promises, Thin Margins
City Manager Marcus Jones’ proposed budget includes $3.6 billion in spending and a bump in the minimum pay to $24/hour for full-time employees. But public workers showed up en masse to say it’s not enough.
A firefighter explained that mandatory overtime doesn’t qualify as actual overtime if you’ve taken a sick day. “We’re told we’re essential—until the budget comes out.” One sanitation employee cut straight to the core: “$25 an hour isn’t a raise. It’s dignity.”
The Kids Are Not Just Alright. They’re Pissed.
Sixteen-year-old Chloe Johnson, wielding a climate justice poster and a confidence most adults lack, silenced the room: “The world doesn’t care about excuses. Fix climate change for my future kids.”
Councilmember Renee Johnson nodded: “We’ve done enough talking. Let’s do something different.”
Cooling Down and Heating Up
Advocates from the People’s Budget Coalition called for $2 million to retrofit 400 apartments—many in formerly redlined neighborhoods—with basic air conditioning.
“Heat is the number-one climate killer,” said environmental historian Tina Scholl. “And Charlotte’s on fire in more ways than one.”
Councilmembers seemed receptive. Councilmember Victoria Watlington called attention to the city’s climate risk maps, while Councilmember Mayfield issued a warning about being “undermined by policy language.”
Scene Stealers
- Chloe Johnson, teen climate warrior.
- A firefighter comparing budget hearings to guessing games.
- A preacher invoking Martin Luther King Jr. and handbags.
- Councilmember Watlington joking the SEAP video almost knocked her out after “pound cake and coffee.”
The Bagel-Scented Backdrop
No budget showdown would be complete without caffeine. Several councilmembers were seen sipping Einstein Bros. coffee—conveniently from the Ballantyne franchise at 13736 Conlan Cir.
They’re open daily until 2 PM. Try the turkey sausage egg white sandwich if you’re testifying before noon, or grab a cheddar bacon number and make a statement.
Shelter Dogs, Data Centers, and Evangelical Fire Trucks
There was rare bipartisan agreement on the need for an upgraded animal shelter. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control staff and volunteers turned out in force.
Heather Bullock, Charlotte’s Chief Sustainability Officer, won laughs for admitting she’s “a super nerd who wants an A, not an A-minus” on climate scores.
But Mayfield again stole the spotlight, questioning whether electric vehicles were really green. “If we can’t recycle the battery, don’t call it progress.”
Preachers, Paychecks, and Purses
Councilmember Tijuana Brown’s invocation was less a prayer than a reminder: “The moment you think you’re better than somebody else because of your purse or address—you’ve missed the plot.”
Everyone clapped. Even the budget office.
Partner Voices, Real Talk
Public speakers emphasized the economic insecurity faced by Charlotte residents—a conversation echoed in our profile of Gabby Starr, the Transamerica advisor championing life planning for single moms and multi-generational households.
And if the room needed a little dream-escaping after three hours of spreadsheets and speeches, they could do worse than flipping through WanderLuxuryTravel founder Djarta Halliday’s luxury itineraries, planned from right here in Fort Mill.
What Happens Next
The Council is expected to vote on the final budget on June 10. Between now and then, the spreadsheets get uglier and the calls from constituents get louder.
RSVP to our May 22 Sip & Stroll at Ballantyne Country Club here, and if you’ve got a story to share, send it to us: ballantyne@strollmag.com.
About the Author
Nell Thomas is a senior writer for The Charlotte Mercury and regular contributor to Strolling Ballantyne. She files her dispatches from a table near the window at Einstein Bros. Bagels Ballantyne, 13736 Conlan Cir—home of the city’s fluffiest shmear, stealthiest WiFi, and the rare caffeine line where no one pretends not to see you.
You can also find Nell’s writing on cltmercury.com and all across Strolling Ballantyne—from Politics to Pets, Hospitality, Events, and profiles like Gabby Starr at Transamerica and Djarta Halliday of WanderLuxuryTravel.
