South Charlotte Weekly

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Volume 15, Number 19 • May 8 to 14, 2015

Run! Ballantyne draws more than 2,000 participants Ballantyne Breakfast Club to host mayoral debate Five candidates slated to participate by Hannah Chronis scweditor@thecharlotteweekly.com

Bissell and Morrison Family, Ballantyne Village YMCA host successful annual event. See the full story on page 4

property tax reside in his district, he said. “A lot of those homes (worth over $500,000) are here,” Driggs said. “If you look at the mix of properties in District 7, we will end up being net payers as opposed to net beneficiaries. It amounts to a wealth transfer exercise that has no real justification.” Driggs also expressed concern with new stormwater fees he said also target the “well-to-do” in the community. Storm Water Services is one of four “enterprise funds” – along with the Charlotte Area Transportation System, Charlotte Water and

The Ballantyne Breakfast Club will host a mayoral debate on Aug. 25, a Tuesday, at the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, located at 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. The four Democratic candidates – current Mayor Dan Clodfelter, at-large Charlotte City Council members David Howard and Michael Barnes, and Jennifer Roberts – who will face each other in the September primary, will participate in the debate. Filing for candidacy officially opens in July, despite campaigns already being underway. Early voting for primaries begins on Sept.3, the Thursday following the debate. A runoff will be held on Oct. 6, if necessary. Ballantyne Breakfast Club founder Ray Eschert said the debate will be a chance for the Democratic candidates

(see Budget on page 5)

(see Debate on page 4)

Photo courtesy of Morrison Family YMCA

South Charlotte representative gives thoughts on budget proposal Driggs calls proposal ‘wealth distribution exercise’ by Ryan Pitkin scwnews@thecharlotteweekly.com

On Monday, May 4, Charlotte City Manager Ron Carlee presented his proposal for a new budget to Charlotte City Council, which will close a $21.7-million shortfall in the general fund. One of Carlee’s focal points within the budget is to eliminate a $47 trash collection fee paid by homeowners, to be replaced with a new property tax for all residential and commercial properties. Businesses

don’t currently pay a trash collection fee. Under the new property tax, homes valued at $267,000 or less will pay less monthly. Owners of higher-end homes, especially those valued more than $538,000, will pay higher rates. District 7 representative Ed Driggs said the new property tax is a way of targeting those in south Charlotte to pay for the entire city’s financial woes. Much of the estimated 20 percent of Charlotteans expected to pay more under the proposed

INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Education, 16; Arts, 20; Calendar, 22; Sports, 24; Classifieds, 27

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