No significant increases in taxes or fees are recommended in the 2022-23 budget presented to the Fayetteville City Council on Monday night.
The total budget is $248.25 million, which represents a 3.3% increase, city officials said.
The tax rate would remain at 49.95 cents per $100 property valuation.
“This balanced-budget proposal continues the significant commitments the City Council has made in setting a vision for the future,” City Manager Doug Hewett said in his budget message to the council. “While our city has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, with 88,602 infected and 631 deceased since 2020, we remained committed to achieving our vision for the next 10 years.”
The city is currently operating on a $240.3 million budget.
“Too much of what you do every month and too much of what the staff does every day is dependent upon this one document that we’re going to cover tonight,” Hewett told members of the council during their monthly meeting at City Hall.
“To say that this powers our organization is a real understatement,” he said.
No property tax increase is recommended in the budget plan, and there is no fee increase for solid waste, stormwater or transit services.
The property tax rate for the Central Business Tax District would remain at 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The stormwater fee would remain at $6 per month, and the residential solid-waste fee would remain at $225 per year. However, minor fee adjustments would have what Hewett called minimal impact.
The budget recommends that bus fares remain at current levels.
“The current economic impacts on employees and cost of living were also things that were guiding principles that were included in this budget proposal,” Hewett said. “As you know, there are current shortages in the labor market. One of the initiatives that we brought to you last year was our desire to become and remain an employer of choice. This budget addresses that in an appreciable way. … We’re also planning to make some refinements to our permitting, plan review and inspections services to enable continued development and economic growth.”
The budget, he said, is designed for future sustainability as well as current financial stability.
Hewett noted that there is little change projected in the general fund, solid waste fund, transit fund, stormwater fund, airport fund and PWC assessment fund.
According to Hewett, the general fund in the recommended budget is $188.3 million. General-fund revenue is projected at $72.2 million, which is roughly 1.3% higher than that in the fiscal year 2022 budget.
The city’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. In May, the city manager presents a recommended budget for consideration by the City Council.
The council will hold a public hearing on the budget plan on June 13, as required by state law.
The council has planned budget work sessions on June 2 and June 9 in City Hall.
The recommended budget is available at the Office of the City Clerk and on the city's website, fayettevillenc.gov.
Michael Futch covers Fayetteville and education for CityView TODAY. He can be reached at mfutch@cityviewnc.com. Have a news tip? Email news@CityViewTODAY.com.
