Victoria Watlington
Coverage of Victoria Watlington in the Nexus archive.
- NC governor signs $34B budget with teacher pay raises, Charlotte penalty
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget with increased education funding and teacher pay raises, while imposing a financial penalty on Charlotte for withdrawing support from the I-77 widening project. The budget raises starting teacher pay from $41,000 to $48,000 but offers smaller increases for veteran teachers, sparking concerns about equity. Charlotte city council members have 90 days to reverse their decision to avoid repaying $60 million in state funds.
- Charlotte mayor selection will soon narrow to five finalists
Charlotte City Council members have selected five finalists for the mayoral position from over 40 applicants. Public interviews for the candidates will be held Thursday, with the council aiming to finalize a selection by Monday. Key candidates include Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell, former City Councilman Harold Cogdell, and attorney Robert Harrington.
- Senator proposes amendment requiring Charlotte to reimburse state for I-77 expansion costs
Senator Vickie Sawyer proposed an amendment requiring Charlotte to reimburse the state for $60 million in costs related to the I-77 expansion project after the city rescinded its support. Charlotte City Council members Victoria Watlington and Ed Driggs expressed opposing views, with Watlington criticizing the amendment as punitive and Driggs acknowledging potential liability for the city.