Cornelius · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cornelius public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
MEDIC EMS Partnership Renewal
The town renewed its fire department first-responder MOU with MEDIC for one year, with a 60-day exit clause if a third-party EMS study doesn't lead to county funding fixes. Bigger changes could come in the FY28 budget.
Police and Fire Staffing Crisis
Cornelius police are down 12 of 66 sworn officers — an 18% vacancy rate — which means fewer patrols, fewer traffic stops, and reactive-only policing. The budget funds market-rate salary increases to recruit and retain officers, firefighters, and 911 telecommunicators.
Public Safety
Cornelius Police just added a dedicated mental health clinician to their team to assist officers during crisis calls. This means folks in mental distress get specialized care right when they need it most.