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Public Education

Co-Leader: Laura Cooper
publiceducation1@goleaguego.org

Co-Leader: Carol Hunley
publiceducation3@goleaguego.org

Board Liaison: Carol Gray-Adler
director2@goleaguego.org

The League of Women Voters supports strong public education as vital to a healthy democracy. The League works to increase awareness of education issues and advocates for K–12 funding, better teacher salaries and retention, and inclusive policies. Key activities include community presentations, public forums, observing and speaking at board meetings, meeting with elected officials to advocate for change, and collaborating with other non-partisan groups.

Meetings: 1st Wednesday each month. Check the Calendar for updates.
Join our Team and collaborate/support public education.

Our Focus

The Public Education Team works to raise awareness, advocate, and educate Charlotte metro residents about the overall status of public education in Mecklenburg County as well as in North Carolina. The Team's goals are:

Advocate for effective and adequate funding for public education.
Advocate for educational equity which will close achievement gaps.
Advocate for increased teacher pay and other factors that will improve teacher retention and recruitment.
Increase public awareness of the issues impacting public education at the state and local level including building coalitions of allied organizations that share our goals.

Be a Public Education Voter

This November, North Carolina voters will decide on three proposed constitutional amendments, two of which will impact funding for public education. Constitutional amendments are difficult to change. Before voting, understand not only what each amendment does today, but also what it could mean for North Carolina’s and your local county’s future.

1) Property Tax Levy Limit Amendment (For/Against): “Constitutional amendment to set limits on property tax increased by local governments.”

What it would do:

Requires the General Assembly to set limits on how much property tax revenue local governments may raise. The amendment does not specify the limit, deferring details to future legislative sessions.

Facts to consider:

Shifts local funding decisions to the state.
Property taxes are the single largest portion of Mecklenburg County’s revenue, about 60%.
This year Mecklenburg County provided $691 million ongoing operating funding to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, 34% of the CMS budget.

2) Reduce Constitutional Income Tax Cap (For/Against): “Constitutional amendment to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%).”

What it would do:

Reduce the maximum personal income tax rate from 7% to 3.5%.

Facts to consider:

It would not reduce taxes. Current law already keeps the tax rate below the proposed cap.
Locks tax policy into the Constitution instead of allowing future lawmakers to respond to changing economic conditions.

Our Focus

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