June 4. By Dave Yochum. The Board of County Commissioners has adopted a $2.5 billion operating budget, with a property tax rate of 49.27 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Along with the Town of Cornelius budget of $39.4 million, it means the total property tax on a $500,000 home in Corneliuswould be $3,328.50.

Highlights

Revaluation coming: The county budget includes $1 million to prepare for the FY2027 property revaluation.

Local police: The Cornelius Town Board set Police Department spending at $11,169,325  in FY2026, up from $10,697,121 in FY2025

Local fire: The Cornelius Town Board set Fire Department spending at $5,645,849 in FY2026, up from $5,131,803 in FY2025

CMS/Education: The county’s FY2026 budget fully funds the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education’s requested increase of $28 million. That is a 4.4% increase for CMS operating funding of $666.1 million. The increase will primarily supplement teacher salaries.

The Fiscal Year 2026 for both the county and the town begins July 1.