Will Crystal Hill probe affect CMS budget? Mecklenburg manager answers
Mecklenburg County Manager Mike Bryant answered questions at a community event Tuesday about county funding for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools after an investigation into Superintendent Crystal Hill.
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Bryant addressed the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum in Charlotte, where he shared updates on his first year as county manager and the county’s latest budget.
During the question-and-answer portion of the event, an attendee asked whether the investigation into Hill will affect county funding for CMS. Mecklenburg provides significant money to the district, including $730 million in the budget that took effect July 1.
Bryant told the group he didn’t have the details to say “in light of what’s going on with the investigation, this is how I would handle it in my budget.”
“Based on what I know today, I’m going to ensure that the county continues to support the education needs of this community,” he said. “I’m not going to allow anything — investigation, whatever it may be — to distract (from) Mecklenburg’s commitment to funding education in this community.”
Hill was placed on leave with pay for nearly two months over the summer as the school board brought in a law firm to investigate “matters involving administrative and operational oversight.” Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC-TV previously reported the investigation was triggered by contracts with some of Hill’s former colleagues. The Observer determined those contracts totaled more than $1.7 million over three years.
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CMS Board Chair Stephanie Sneed announced Hill’s return to work at an Aug. 11 school board meeting. The school board otherwise hasn’t released details about what its investigation concluded or how will address any findings.
Bryant told reporters after the Tuesday event the CMS investigation “can’t distract” from community needs.
“So when I sit down and work on the ‘28 budget, unless I learn more about the investigation … I don’t see anything interfering with what I would plan to bring forward to my Board of County Commissioners for consideration,” he said.
Asked by the Observer if he or the County Commission will be briefed on the results of the Hill investigation, Byrant said that he has not been asked to request a formal report from the Board of Education.
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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 12:31 PM.
