People’s Budget Coalition Releases New Recommendations for City Budget
Policy and funding suggestions come before June budget adoption
After seeing some success in lobbying Charlotte City Council to include its policy and funding proposals in last year’s budget process, the People’s Budget Coalition this week released new recommendations for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
As a coalition of local advocacy groups, service providers, faith leaders, community organizations and concerned citizens working toward “a people-first, community-up vision for the City of Charlotte,” the People’s Budget Coalition’s new recommendations focus on anti-displacement, violence interruption and prevention, respectable wages for city employees and guaranteed air conditioning for all residents.
“We believe in care, dignity, and justice, and seek a budget that provides for everyone while centering those too often left behind or out,” read a release from the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) announcing this year’s recommendations. “We believe that advocating as a collective voice will help set the agenda for local government to better meet the needs of the community and deliver better outcomes for everyone.”
As was the case last year, this year’s list of recommendations are rooted in three principles, listed below directly as worded by the organization:
- A community for everyone
“We believe that everyone should be able to live with stability and dignity in our community. All Charlotteans should have access to housing, livelihood, and resources to thrive. We reject the notion that only the wealthy and developers can thrive here.”
- Resources, not criminalization
“Neither punishment nor neglect is an appropriate response to people’s needs. We reject using the criminal legal system as a solution to social and systemic ills. We believe that our collective local social safety net must be strengthened.”
- We can do hard things
“We believe that an expansive vision and willingness to do bold things is necessary to address the root causes of our city’s problems.”
Below, we’ll take a look at some of this year’s notable policy proposals and funding recommendations.
The PBC notes that all organizational funding requests are submitted through the city’s Financial Partner program, a request-for-proposal (RFP) process, or Neighborhood Matching Grant application process. Policy proposals, on the other hand, are left to Charlotte City Council and city staff to adopt and identify the funding source.
Air-Conditioning Support
Working toward a long-term goal of seeing the city mandate that all apartments and other multifamily housing units have air conditioning, PBC is recommending $2 million be spent on a pilot program for the city to buy 400 energy-efficient A/C units for rental apartments that currently have no such service.
The request comes as a response to reports included in Charlotte’s own Strategic Energy Action Plan finding that Charlotte has seen a 300% increase in extreme heat days, with low-income neighborhoods being the most heavily impacted.
Those areas are particularly vulnerable due to limited greenery and increased concrete coverage, which exacerbates heat, the PBC points out, while also being home to people who suffer from higher rates of asthma and respiratory issues, which are worsened by extreme heat.
PBC estimates that approximately 7,500 housing units in Charlotte do not have air conditioning.
“While there are some tax breaks & incentives for homeowners to add or repair A/C units, there are not as many avenues for apartments and multifamily units,” read a release from PBC. “We believe that Charlotte should mandate that all multifamily & apartments have A/C but have seen that while Charlotte City Government understands the need, there are some issues that need to be researched before an A/C mandate would be recommended by staff.”
That includes clarifying how many apartment units lack air conditioning, the costs of installation, and the potential burden on tenants due to increased rent and utility bills.
“We will continue to advocate for an A/C mandate but are proposing the city start a fund immediately to help landlords voluntarily add environmentally friendly A/C to apartments & multifamily housing that don’t have it,” read the PBC release.
Assistance for Displaced Tenants
Driven by mass-displacement events at the Tanglewood Apartments and Lamplighter Inn in 2024, PBC is recommending the city fund a pilot program to cover families earning less than 30% of the average median income (AMI) who are forced to leave their current residence due to unremediated housing code violations or the need to relocate while remediation is occurring.
Read more: Mass Displacement at Tanglewood Apartments, Lamplighter Inn Shines Light on Negligent Landlords
With an estimated cost of $1.1 million, the pilot program would be offered to households not eligible for the current Community Link program, which services households at 30-80% AMI. It would provide a one-year rent subsidy of $800 per month for up to 50 families, plus administrative costs incurred while finding alternative apartments within their means, including reimbursement of application fees.
“Tanglewood Apartments & The Lamplighter Inn are examples of the need to expand funding & scope by the city to address the immediate impact of displacement,” read PBC’s release.
Creation of Youth Violence Prevention Centers
One holdover recommendation from last year is the suggested creation of a youth violence prevention center in Charlotte.
Launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Youth Violence Prevention Centers are described as “academic-community collaborations that advance the science and practice of youth violence prevention … [by] developing, implementing, and rigorously evaluating innovative strategies to prevent violence and create safer, healthier family and community environments for youth.”
During a presentation on public safety policy proposals at Monday night’s Charlotte City Council meeting, Shawn Heath with the city manager’s office included a youth-led social norms campaign that would “promote positive social norms to mitigate youth violence,” with funding already allocated in the FY2025 budget.
An RFP for the social norms campaign is expected to be posted within two weeks of Monday night’s meeting.
Drawing on social marketing and health communications techniques, social norm campaigns aim to affect attitudes, beliefs and behaviors related to violence, specifically among young people.
Social norm campaigns are a part of the CDC’s Youth Violence Prevention Center model.
“The way we react to violence may be based on what we see other people do, or how we think other people would act,” reads the CDC’s website. “In other words, our reactions are based on what we believe is normal or appropriate.”
Respectable Wages for City Workers
Continuing a recommendation that was only partially fulfilled by the city last year, the PBC this year is requesting that the minimum wage for city workers be increased to $26 per hour. In 2024, the coalition requested an increase to $25 per hour, though the approved budget raised it only to $23.
This week’s list of recommendations also includes a 10% across-the-board raise for city workers, 4% increase in 401K contribution, and an increase in the housing down-payment-assistance program purchase limit from $310,000 to $410,000 due to rising housing prices in the Charlotte area.
“The City of Charlotte needs to commit to ensuring all of its employees are paid a respectable wage, not just a livable wage,” read Monday’s release from PBC. “If you proudly wear the crown on your uniform, ensure that our streets are immaculate, our citizens are able to move around to get to work & play, our water flows cleanly and our visitors want to become residents, you should be able to pay your rent & prepare for retirement.”
The PBC’s list of recommendations also includes 11 funding requests for community organizations and/or programs that are doing work on the ground to further the stated goals and focus areas of the coalition. They are as follows:
- Sol Nation: $200,000 to carry out a community engagement survey identifying climate and environmental issues and solutions on the Corridors of Opportunity.
- Heal Charlotte: $184,000 for program support and temporary housing for victims of displacement.
- Crisis Assistance Ministries: $825,000 for rental and utility assistance.
- Roof Above: $250,000 for day-to-day operation of the Day Services Center.
- Block Love Charlotte: $100,000 to support the organization’s outreach program for our homeless neighbors.
- Freedom Fighting Missionaries: $1 million to house and support 40 McKinney-Vento families who are experiencing homelessness.
- Save Our Children Movement: $125,000 for year-round after-school programming, summer school programming, and mentorship programming.
- Alternatives to Violence: $500,000 to continue the Beatties Ford Road project, which is not funded through 2026 as the other ongoing ATV programs in Charlotte are.
- Hearts of the Invisible: $150,000 to continue supporting two social workers conducting outreach to homeless residents in Uptown.
- Archdale Senior Organization: $25,000 to organize a resident council.
- Fifth Element CMPD Community Services Bureau Program: $10,000 to continue youth outreach programming.
Organizers with the People’s Budget Coalition will spend the coming months lobbying Charlotte City Council for adoption of its policy requests and funding allocations.
“When looking at the People’s Budget, I hope you see that these organizations are providing immediate action and response to major problems in Charlotte,” said Robert Dawkins, political director with Action NC and a lead organizer with the People’s Budget Coalition.
“For example, who was there when the residents of Lamplighter Inn & Tanglewood Apartments were displaced to help them find an immediate place to go and help them find a permanent home?” he continued. “Who is on the streets in Uptown providing counseling to people that the city was set to criminalize? Who is providing food, services and shelter to the less fortunate? Who is working with the children that choose mentorship over delinquency? These are the critical boots on the ground services that the People’s Budget Coalition organization provides.”
The city manager’s office is expected to present its proposed budget to council on May 5, followed by an adjustments meeting on May 19, straw votes on May 29, and adoption on June 9.
A virtual community budget workshop focused on workforce development, mobility and housing is scheduled for March 27 at 6 p.m.
