FY 2012 - 2013
Property Taxes
Office of the Tax Collector
Mecklenburg County, NC
Mecklenburg
Charlotte
Cornelius
Davidson
Huntersville
Matthews
Mint Hill
Pineville
What do property taxes pay for?
When you call the police or fire department, play in a park, send your children to public school, check
out a book at the library, or eat at an inspected restaurant, you are using services paid for by your property taxes. Your taxes also pay for services to help people move from welfare to work, protect children
and senior citizens from abuse and neglect, protect our water and air from pollution, repair and build
roads, and much more. Property taxes are the largest source of revenue to fund these services that you
count on every day. For more information about Mecklenburg County’s budget, the services funded by
your property taxes, and links to the municipal web sites, visit www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.
What property is taxed?
Property taxes are levied on real property (land and buildings), business personal property, registered
motor vehicles, boats, manufactured homes, and income-producing personal property.
How much will I pay in taxes?
The amount of property tax you pay is based on the assessed value of your property. The Tax
Assessor determines the value of all taxable property by the first of each year. The tax you pay is based
on that value and the tax rate established by the elected city, county, or town officials. (Multiply the tax
rate by each $100 of assessed value). For example, the taxes for a home assessed at $200,000 in value is
$1,584.40 for County taxes and $874.00 for Charlotte taxes.
What are Fire and Police Taxes?
Property owners in unincorporated Mecklenburg County pay taxes for police services through the
Law Enforcement Service District Tax and for fire protection and emergency services through the Fire
Protection Service District Tax. Effective July 1, 2012, Mecklenburg County established five (5) Fire
Protection Service Districts in the unincorporated areas of the County. Owners in these areas will find
the Fire Protection Service District Tax included in their real estate tax bill.
How do I change my address on my tax bill?
To change your mailing address for real estate tax bills, please visit http://tax.charmeck.org, click Office
of the Tax Collector, Submit a Change of Address to access the change of address notice. For all registered motor vehicle tax bills, contact the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Address change information for registered motor vehicles come directly from DMV. Please change your address within their
offices, and they will send the corrected address information to the Tax Assessor’s Office the next time
you renew your license tag.
FY 2012-2013 Mecklenburg County Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Law Enforcement
Service District Tax
$12,467,196 - 1%
Fire District Tax
$3,296,101 - 1%
Local ABC Profits
$2,938,000 - 1%
Investment Income
$2,740,000 - 1%
Fund Balance
$14,000,000 - 1%
Licenses & Permits
$15,934,200 - 1%
Other Revenue
$31,752,700 - 2%
Fees & Charges
$87,187,612 - 6%
www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
FY2013 Mecklenburg County
Tax Rate:
$0.7922 per $100 of assessed
value
Police Service District Tax:
$0.1937
Fire Service District Tax:
FIRE (MCH) - $0.05
FIRE (MCN) - $0.05
FIRE (MDV) - $0.05
FIRE (MHT) - $0.05
FIRE (MMH) - $0.07
Federal & State
$150,321,603 - 10%
Sales Tax
$199,758,000 - 13%
Property Taxes
$912,350,490 - 63%
Total Revenue:
$1,432,745,902
How the Money is Used
CMS Operating $337,432,664
24%
19%
Community Health & Safety
281,211,540
Effective & Efficient Government
182,566,023
CMS Debt Service
154,331,407
Social, Education & Economic 138,798,479
Sustainable Community
133,519,720
9%
General Debt Service 122,359,965
9%
12%
11%
10%
Pay As You Go
33,988,500
2%
CPCC Operating
27,099,486
2%
CPCC Debt Service
16,478,118
1%
CMS Capital Replacement
4,960,000
1%
TOTALS$1,432,745,902
For more details about the FY2013 budget go to
www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
FY 2012-2013 City of Charlotte Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Storm Water
$57,730,994 - 3%
User Fees & Other Revenue
$91,874,756 - 5%
Bonds
$14,000,000 - 1%
Property &
Other Taxes
$581,504,840 - 35%
Public Transit
$271,909,809 - 16%
Water & Sewer
$276,939,427 - 16%
Aviation
$404,761,352 - 24%
www.charmeck.org
FY2013 City of Charlotte
Tax Rate:
$0.4370 per $100 of
assessed value
($1.2292 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Total Revenue:
$1,698,721,178
How the Money is Used
Aviation $404,761,352
Public Safety 321,829,929
Water & Sewer 276,939,427
Public Transit 271,909,809
Public Works
225,847,515
Housing/Economic Development 78,231,737
Administation & General Government
61,470,415
Storm Water 57,730,994
TOTALS
$1,698,721,178
Tax Rate Breakdown:
General Fund Debt Payments Pay-As-You-Go Total City Tax Rate
$0.360
$0.065
$0.012
$0.437
24%
19%
16%
16%
13%
5%
4%
3%
Municipal Tax Districts:
District 1 Tax Rate District 2 Tax Rate District 3 Tax Rate District 4 Tax Rate District 5 Tax Rate $0.0168
$0.0401
$0.0526
$0.0668
$0.0279
FY 2012-2013 Town of Cornelius Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Other Revenue
$244,576 - 1%
Grants &
Investments
$86,000 - 1%
Powell Bill
$664,087 - 3%
Other Taxes
$721,296 - 4%
Appropriated Fund
Balance
$896,401 - 4%
Charges for
Services & Fees
$1,063,900 - 5%
http://www.cornelius.org
Property Taxes
$11,781,205 - 61%
Shared Revenue
$4,058,725 - 21%
FY2013 Cornelius Tax Rate:
$0.24 per $100 of assessed
value
($1.0322 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Total Revenue:
$19,516,190
How the Money is Used
Police & Public Safety $5,554,495
28%
Debt Service & Capital Projects
3,849,267
Solid Waste & Sanitation
1,896,833
10%
General Government
1,720,418
10%
Public Works
1,662,617
Parks & Recreation 1,302,804
6%
Fire & Rescue
1,218,000
6%
Powell Bill 910,649
Tourism & Culture
694,910
Planning
501,199
Storm Water
204,998
TOTALS
$19,516,190
19%
9%
5%
4%
2%
1%
FY 2012-2013 Town of Davidson Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Powell Bill
$280,100 - 2%
Other Revenue
$35,500 - 1%
Charges for
Services & Fees
$1,422,290 - 14%
Other Taxes
$2,443,500 - 24%
www.ci.davidson.nc.us
FY2013 Davidson Tax Rate:
$0.35 per $100 of assessed
value
($1.1422 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Property &
Vehicle Taxes
$6,064,747 - 59%
Total Revenue:
$10,246,137
How the Money is Used
Police & Public Safety
$1,731,420
20%
Streets
1,331,603
10%
Parks & Recreation
1,097,875
10%
Telecommunications
1,000,000
10%
9%
Administration & General Government
951,420
Fire & Rescue
762,228
7%
Solid Waste
750,000
7%
Building & Grounds
597,605
Contribution to Capital Projects Fund
353,484
3%
Economic Development
325,896
3%
Planning 311,736
3%
Storm Water
285,000
3%
Power Bill 280,100
3%
Travel & Tourism
263,220
3%
Governing Board
154,550
Other50,000
TOTALS$10,246,137
6%
2%
1%
FY 2012-2013 Town of Huntersville Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Other Revenue
$964,706 - 4%
Storm Water
$700,000 - 3%
Powell Bill
$1,450,000 - 6%
Grants & Loans
$294,000 - 1%
http://www.huntersville.org
Charges for
Services & Fees
$1,472,586 - 6%
Other taxes
$6,661,000 - 20%
FY2013 Huntersville Tax
Rate:
$0.2825 per $100 of assessed
value
($1.0747 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Property Taxes
$16,865,205 - 60%
Total Revenue:
$28,407,497
How the Money is Used
Police & Public Safety $ 9,319,977
32%
Public Works
4,452,725
Fire Rescue
2,462,730
9%
Parks & Recreation
2,428,213
9%
Debt Services & Capital
2,273,250
Administrative & General Government
1,594,104
Tourism & Culture
1,337,626
5%
Powell Bill
1,450,000
5%
Governing Board
1,062,037
15%
8%
6%
4%
3%
Planning
951,526
Storm Water
700,000
Streets & Transportation
197,909
1%
Other
177,400
1%
TOTALS
$28,407,497
2%
FY 2012-2013 Town of Matthews Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Water & Sewer Bond
$481,550 - 2%
Other Taxes
$202,500 - 1%
Grants & Loans
$145,736 - 1%
Fund Balance
$533,624 - 3%
Storm Water
$590,000- 3%
Powell Bill
$730,334- 4%
Charges for
Services & Fees
$908,896 - 4%
Other Revenue
$1,233,205 - 6%
http://www.matthewsnc.com
FY2013 Matthews Tax Rate:
$0.3025 per $100 of assessed
value
($1.0947 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Property Taxes
$10,186,794 - 49%
Shared Revenue
$5,512,901 - 27%
Total Revenue:
$20,525,540
How the Money is Used
Police & Public Safety $6,231,491
30%
Administration & General Government 2,151,150
10%
Debt Service
2,016,184
10%
Tourism & Culture 1,978,681
10%
1,858,494
10%
Solid Waste & Sanitation
Powell Bill
1,452,952
7%
Public Works
1,425,047
7%
Fire & Rescue
1,338,361
6%
3%
Storm Water
624,872
Parks & Recreation
457,095
2%
Planning
440,657
2%
Other 330,000
1%
Governing Board
170,556
1%
50,000
1%
Economic Development
TOTALS
$ 20,525,540
FY 2012-2013 Town of Mint Hill Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Water & Sewer Bond
$593,975 - 6%
Vehicle Fee
$175,000 - 2%
Restricted Revenue
$101,000 - 1%
Other Revenue
$693,000 - 6%
http://www.minthill.com
Fund Balance
$765,585 - 7%
Property Taxes
$ 6,020,000 - 57%
Shared Revenue
$2,210,000 - 21%
FY2013 Mint Hill Tax Rate:
$0.27 per $100 of assessed
value
($1.0622 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Total Revenue:
$10,558,560
How the Money is Used
Police & Public Safety $3,223,396
Solid Waste
1,915,000
Fire & Rescue
1,533,953
Streets & Transportation
1,236,167
30%
18%
14%
12%
715,520
7%
Other695,000
7%
Debt Service (including Water & Sewer)
Administrative & General Government
596,200
6%
3%
Planning333,492
Parks & Recreation
272,703
Governing Board
37,129
TOTALS$10,558,560
2%
1%
FY 2012-2013 Town of Pineville Budget in Brief
Where the Money Comes From
Charges for
Services & Fees
$257,000 - 3%
Powell Bill
$177,625 - 2%
Storm Water
$330,000 - 3%
Grants, Loans,
& Investments
$140,546 - 1%
Other Revenue
$1,110,000 - 11%
Property Taxes
$5,034,839 - 50%
Other Taxes
$2,902,500 - 30%
http://www.pinevillenc.net
FY2013 Pineville Tax Rate:
$0.32 per $100 of assessed
value
($1.1122 combined with
Mecklenburg County rate)
Total Revenue:
$9,952,510
How the Money is Used
Public Safety $4,727,545
47%
Administration & General Government 2,066,365
20%
Tourism & Culture
1,710,975
20%
Public Works
640,625
Storm Water 330,000
Sanitation280,000
Powell Bill
Other 6%
3%
2%
177,000
1%
20,000
1%
TOTALS$9,952,510
How do I pay my taxes?
There are five (5) ways to pay your real estate and personal property taxes. Please reference the entire 24 digit bill number
when paying taxes.
1. By Internet:
Visit http://paytax.charmeck.org to use your credit/debit card or choose eCheck to have payment deducted from your checking account. Official Payments Corporation (OPC) charges a convenience fee to process credit card and debit card transactions. No fee is charged for eCheck transactions. The entire 24 digit bill number is required.
2. By Telephone: Call toll-free 1-877-533-0072 to use your credit/debit card or choose eCheck to have payment deducted from your checking account. Official Payments Corporation (OPC) charges a convenience fee to process credit card and debit card transactions. No fee is charged for eCheck transactions. The entire 24 digit bill number is required.
3. By Mail: Mail both the tax payment stub and check or money order to Mecklenburg County Tax Collector, PO Box 71063, Charlotte, NC 28272-1063. Make check or money order payable to Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. The entire 24 digit bill number is required.
4. In Person: Robert L. (Bob) Walton Plaza at 700 East Stonewall Street. Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (cash, check, or money order only) or West Service Area Center at 4150 Wilkinson Blvd. Monday – Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (cash, check, or money order only).
5. Online Funds are sent electronically to Mecklenburg County Tax Collector’s Office by your financial institution.
Banking:
Once a payment has been authorized, it may take up to four business days before it is applied to the tax bill. The 24 digit bill number must be entered on the online bill pay account number field to ensure proper payment posting to the tax bill. The payment will be rejected and sent back to the financial institution if the tax bill number is missing or incorrect. Interest will apply if payment is received after January 7, 2013. Tax bill numbers from previous payments must be deleted and replaced with a current tax bill number for each payment.
What is the County’s check policy?
Checks must have drawer’s name, drawer’s address, check number, financial institution’s name, and MICR number preprinted
on the check. Checks must have the current date, numbers printed, the amount paid spelled out, and a signature. Mecklenburg
County does not accept starter, counter, altered, or photocopied checks.
What are the tax deadlines?
Property tax payments (except registered motor vehicles) are due September 1, 2012 and must be paid before January 8, 2013.
If mailed, payments must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service (not by postage meter) on or before January 7, 2013 to avoid
interest charges. Taxpayers whose payment is received on or after January 8, 2013 will be charged 2% interest for January and an
additional 3/4% interest for each month thereafter until paid. Unpaid taxes (except registered motor vehicles) as of January 8,
2013 may be advertised in a local newspaper as being delinquent and an additional fee for advertising will be added. All delinquent taxes are subject to garnishment, levy (seizure), and foreclosure.
What happens if my check is returned for non-sufficient funds?
A 10% fee, with a minimum of $25.00 and a maximum of $1,000.00, whichever is greater, will be added for returned checks per
section 105-357(b)(2) of the North Carolina General Statutes.
Still have questions?
• Visit our Web site at http://tax.charmeck.org.
• Contact the CharMeck Call Center by dialing 311 if calling within Mecklenburg County or 704-336-7600 for calls
outside of Mecklenburg County.
• To learn more about Mecklenburg County and the services provided, log on to www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.