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Confusion on Mecklenburg, Union County line could impact hundreds of residents

County assessors say there are discrepancies on where Mecklenburg County ends and Union County begins in some neighborhoods.

STALLINGS, N.C. — County leaders are looking into discrepancies that they say are leading to confusion on where Mecklenburg County ends and Union County begins in some areas.

Changes to the boundary lines could lead to about 300 properties having to switch to a different county, according to the Mecklenburg County assessor. The change would affect a household's school district, voting precinct, property taxes, and emergency services.

“Common sense tells me it doesn’t make any sense,” Stallings Mayor Wyatt Dunn told WCNC Charlotte.

Dunn lives on Shannamara Drive. His neighborhood is divided by the Mecklenburg and Union County line. He claimed that the boundary issue was already resolved between Mint Hill, Stallings, and the counties when it was brought up in 2001. 

“The people in Union County want to stay in Union County," the mayor said. "I don’t know about the Mecklenburg County folks, but we’re going to fight this and there’s no reason to change the line.” 

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Dunn worried that the change would mean he and his neighbors would be absorbed by Mecklenburg County.

His neighbor Tish Brown lives on the Mecklenburg County side of the street. Brown said if the line goes the other way to favor Union County, she wouldn’t mind. 

“My taxes would go down so that would be okay,” Brown added. 

It’s unclear how the line will be redrawn if the counties choose to take up the issue. 

Mecklenburg County Assessor Ken Joyner told WCNC Charlotte that both counties and the state are still using slightly different boundaries – meaning the discrepancies weren’t resolved in 2001.

Joyner said he is, "trying to figure out what is the best course of action for our county, Union County to do the same process, and try to determine if we agree with the state line or if we want to take a different course of action.”  

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When asked why this issue has resurfaced, Joyner said, “I don’t think either county is trying to get more tax money or get more houses or anything like that, it's just trying to resolve an uncertain boundary so that 20 years from now it won't come back up again.” 

Town and county leaders are looping in state officials for help and are working to create a map that will show the lines that are up for question and which properties are affected.

Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

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