MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. -- Starting this fall, 600 children will have access to universal pre-kindergarten in Mecklenburg County.

• Tax increase on homes valued at $250,000 will help fund the program
• Some say the tax hike is more of an investment than an expense
• Program will also include free transportation

Commissioners approved a three quarters of a cent property tax increase to fund the program. The increase adds up to about $19 a year for a home valued at $250,000.

Members of education advocacy group, oneMECK believe this tax hike isn’t an expense but an investment.

“To me, this is money that is going to pay for itself over and over again as we develop healthy citizens,” said Justin Perry with oneMECK.

County Manager Dena Diorio says they're working with Smart Start Mecklenburg, a state funded early childhood education initiative.

“We're using existing childcare centers where these classrooms will be so these infrastructures really in place it's just a matter of hiring the teachers and getting the kids,” said Diorio.

The program will be available to any family to who meets the income requirement and includes free transportation.

Diorio says they'll evaluate the students' progress at the beginning and end of the pre-k program as well as their progress in kindergarten. This is phase one of a six-year early childhood education plan. Diorio says there are about 12,000 children who start kindergarten every year in Mecklenburg County.