Charlotte City Council debated adjustments today to the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year. Financial partners became a point of contention among council members, with some pushing for more community groups to receive funding.
Council member Tiawana Brown suggested increasing funding for the Save Our Children Movement to just over $5 million. Brown told council members that many local organizations are at risk.
"A lot of these organizations that we're supporting and we're talking about, they're taking hits because of DEI," Brown said. "No one will say it, but I'll say it. They're already falling short, so now is the time for us as a councilor to step up and support the people that we can support in our community."
The proposed budget moves to a straw vote on June 2, and the council will consider adoption for the budget on June 9. The proposed budget would raise city employees' minimum pay to $24 an hour, and does not include a property tax increase.
