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Every day, the City of Fayetteville shows up for you — and this budget process helps ensure we can continue doing just that. Whether it is a police officer responding to your call, a firefighter protecting your neighborhood, or a crew picking up your trash on a Tuesday morning, these are the services that shape the quality of life in our community. When you walk through a well-maintained park, drive on a repaired road or know that help is just a phone call away — that is your City at work.
Your City Councilmembers are committed to making sure those services remain strong, reliable and reflective of what matters most to our community. This week, as part of that commitment, I presented my Recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget to the City Council for their review, discussion and consideration. The recommended budget totals $322,813,979 and represents staff's best effort to responsibly balance the services residents depend on with the long-term investments our community deserves. This is the beginning of Council’s deliberative process, and the final adopted budget will ultimately reflect the priorities and direction of City Council.
The recommended budget proposes a property tax rate of $0.4795 — still among the lowest in the City's history. The modest $0.03 increase is recommended to support the services residents rely on every day while addressing rising costs and long-term community needs.
Among the key highlights within the recommended budget for the Council's consideration:
- Public Safety — $120 million is recommended for public safety, including $76 million for the Fayetteville Police Department and $42 million for the Fire Department, ensuring our first responders have the resources they need to protect and serve our community.
- Mental Health Response — Two new mental health response units are recommended within the Office of Community Safety to better serve residents experiencing crisis situations and address growing community needs.
- Employee Compensation — The recommendation includes a 4% pay increase for City employees, step increases for public safety personnel, and a 1% increase in the City's 401(k) contribution so the people who serve our community every day feel supported and valued.
- Solid Waste — A $10 annual fee adjustment is recommended to help sustain the reliable curbside service residents count on while keeping pace with rising operational costs.
Over the next several weeks, the Mayor and City Council will review the recommended budget — deliberating on funding priorities, hearing from residents and making the decisions they believe best serve our community. My role, and the role of City staff, is to provide our best professional guidance and faithfully implement the direction the Council provides.
Your voice is an important part of that process. City Councilmembers, along with City staff want to hear from you and what's important to you. I encourage you to attend the budget work sessions on May 21 and May 28, as well as the public hearing on May 26, where you can speak directly to your elected leaders. If you cannot attend in person, you can watch live on FayTV, available on Spectrum Channel 7, at FayTV.net, and on the FayTV app on most streaming devices.
You can also share your priorities through our new budget tool at FayettevilleNC.gov/Budget. Just answer one question — How would you distribute $100 of City funds? Your response helps us better understand what matters most to you and your family, and that insight helps inform future planning and discussion.
Your priorities matter, and your City leaders want to hear directly from you. I hope you will take advantage of every opportunity to get involved, because when our community speaks, we listen.
Best,
Dr. Douglas J. Hewett
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