Mecklenberg County commissioners

The North Carolina General Assembly’s short session starts Tuesday, and a proposal to cap property tax increases has Mecklenburg leaders on edge. Meanwhile, CMPD just dropped first-quarter crime stats and separate new data shows nearly half those arrested in last year's Charlotte Border Patrol operation had no criminal record. Also, after an overtime win on Tuesday, the Hornets face the Orlando Magic on Friday night, fighting for a final playoff spot.

Both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education and Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners are preparing for a tight budget cycle.

Mecklenburg voters will decide on a referendum to levy a 1-cent sales tax to fund Charlotte’s transit plan. That tax would generate nearly $20 billion over 30 years for various transit projects. Proponents say the time is now to make this critical decision. Others urge a no vote because of who will be hurt by rising taxes. We look at both sides.

All nine Mecklenburg Commissioners agreed Wednesday that they will no longer attempt to work with Miami Beach-based The Peebles Corp. to redevelop Brooklyn Village in Second Ward.

Mecklenburg commissioners voted 8-to-1 to place the tax on the ballot. The proposed tax increase would raise billions of dollars to build more roads, rail transit and more bus service.

During a debate over spending public money on a proposed $400 million tennis complex west of the airport, Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio said the county would not help pay for stadium renovations for the Carolina Panthers.

The U.S. job economy has had ups and downs. North Carolina has started to show signs of recovery.

A six-week budget standoff between Mecklenburg County commissioners and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board over $56 million is over. The county agreed to give the district the money — along with an extra $11 million.