Mecklenburg County's lowest-paid full-time workers earn at least $25.53 an hour after commissioners approved a $5 raise that took effect July 1.

The increase, from $20 to $25.53 per hour, applies to all of the county's lowest-paid full-time employees, including those in public health, social services and parks and recreation. Those are departments that serve Ballantyne residents directly. The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners adopted the raise as part of its $2.6 billion fiscal year 2027 budget on June 2, with all nine commissioners voting in favor, according to the county's budget announcement.

The wage floor is pegged to the MIT Living Wage Calculator for Mecklenburg County, according to the county's budget overview. The bump costs $2.5 million within a budget that grew 2% over the prior year. The county property tax rate stays at 49.27 cents per $100 of assessed value.

County Commissioner Mark Jerrell told Queen City News the change reflects the cost of living in a fast-growing region. "We want our county employees who support this community to be able to live in this community," Jerrell said.

He added that the $25.53 rate is progress but not a finish line, and that starting pay above $25 an hour gives workers a high ceiling if they want to build a career with the county.

County leaders also said employees who help residents navigate social services should not have to rely on those same services themselves, according to Queen City News. Mecklenburg County has more than 6,500 employees serving 1.2 million residents.

The county first set its minimum wage at $15 an hour in 2019 and has raised it several times since.

Beyond the minimum wage increase, the FY2027 budget includes a 3% across-the-board pay raise costing $16.9 million and performance-based raises of up to 5%, totaling $13.2 million. Full-time employees also receive a one-time $500 supplement.

UNC Charlotte economics professor Matthew Metzgar said higher pay could attract stronger candidates and reduce turnover but cautioned about broader effects. "In some places you can get inflationary problems that follow from that," Metzgar said.

A separate $2.3 million line item in the budget would extend the $25.53 minimum to Medic staff, but that provision is pending a briefing and recommendation from the county manager.