Budget & Evaluation

Budget Chronicles - Fiscal Year 2026

Through the Budget Chronicles, residents have the opportunity to be a part of an open, transparent process that will help shape the upcoming fiscal year for the City of Fayetteville and the services provided to residents.

The budget process begins and ends with the City's Strategic Plan, which is a roadmap employed by many local governments to guide the use of money, personnel and resources to realize a shared vision of the future. The Budget and Evaluation Office coordinates the annual budget development process.

The City invites you to participate via the webpage as we forge ahead into the next year.

May 22, 2025 - City Council FY 2026 Budget Questions

Q1. What is the dollar amount of the projected expenditures for police IT improvements? 

The FY26 recommended project expenditures for Police IT improvements is $4,204,839. This amount includes $1,454,321 for Radio Upgrades and Additional Consolettes, $100,000 for Public Safety Video Data Storage and Analysis, $2,568,370 for the Axon contract, and $82,148 for Camera Migration. 


Q2. What dollar amount is allocated for Mazarick Park? 

There was $100,000 reserved for Mazarick Park resurfacing from last year, and there is another $190,000 added in FY26 for resurfacing. 


Q3. What is the average value of the current house in the city of Fayetteville since the FY2025 revaluation?

According to County data, the average assessed home value in the City of Fayetteville since the FY25 valuation is $246,500.


Q4. What is the dollar amount allocated in FY26 for street markings? 

There is $200,506 in the FY26 budget for marking 10.8 miles of streets. 


Q5. How much is the FY26 budget for neighborhood street entrance signs? 

$50,000 has been budgeted for neighborhood improvements. As of May 20, of the $75,000 included in the current fiscal year budget (FY25), there is $45,000 remaining.


Q6. How much is the loose-leaf budget, and where is it posted? 

Funding for loose leaf collection is included in the Solid Waste Enterprise fund, which is funded through the solid waste fees. The total cost of the program is $341,900.


Q7. Did the police have any requests that were not funded? 

All police operating requests, both current and new initiatives, were recommended.  


Q8. We would like more financial information on the parking deck, inclusive of expenditures outside of the parking fund. 

Parking deck expenditures paid for by the General Fund include sign installation, debt payments, and security. The signs are minor one-time payments covered by Public Services. Debt payments for the Hay Street parking deck, exclusive of a parking fund contribution, are $ 1,028,150 for FY24 and $1,160,865 for FY25. Security costs, paid out of the general fund, are approximately 132,000 annually. The table below shows the FY24 and FY25 YTD (year-to-date) expenditures posted in the parking fund. In FY24, expenditures paid by the parking fund exceeded parking fund revenues by $444,270.

Parking Fund Summary


Q9. What does CBTD and parking have to offer citizens and potential entrepreneurs in the area?

The City of Fayetteville and its residents benefit from the MSD and its nonprofit managing partner through targeted downtown services, enhanced quality of life, support for economic development, consistent management and accountability, and a stable funding mechanism—all contributing to a more vibrant, safe, and economically viable downtown core.

  • The MSD allows the city to finance and support services in the downtown area “in addition to or to a greater extent” than what is provided to the rest of the city. 
  • These services may include cleanliness, safety, placemaking, beautification, marketing, and events, which are key to revitalizing and activating the area.
  • Diverse Tax Base: Supporting business and economic growth downtown adds to the city’s financial health.
  • Quality of Life and Revitalization: Investments in public spaces, events, and services improve living and recreational conditions for residents and visitors.
  • Favorable Development Climate: Improved infrastructure and public perception attract new investments
  • Transparency and Engagement: Management includes outreach and communication with the public, fostering trust and collaboration.

The City contracts with the Cool Spring Downtown District, a nonprofit organization, to:

  • Administer programs and services in the MSD (e.g., Ambassador Program, events, branding, public art).
  • Provide specialized personnel, such as Downtown Safety Engagement Ambassadors, who patrol and assist visitors and businesses while also serving cleanliness and hospitality functions.
  • Offer consistency and accountability, with performance benchmarks and reporting built into contracts.

Q10. How many new requests were granted to fire?

The following new initiatives are recommended for the fire department: $346,827 for 3 additional Fire Inspectors and 1 Plans Examiner. 


Q11. Please provide an update on the North Carolina History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction?

According to the project manager for the NC History Center on the Civil War Emancipation & Reconstruction: Of the initial $3,300,000 in funding, only $29,351 remains unspent. These funds have supported significant progress across multiple project areas. 

Construction and Site Work 

  • Pavilion Completion: Balfour Beatty Construction (BBC) is nearing completion of the Pavilion. For safety, the Pavilion site and the Phase 3 site remain fenced until the overall project concludes.
  • Phase 3 Property Transfer: After a 4-month legal process, the Phase 3 property transfer from the Foundation to the State has been finalized. The delay prevented construction from beginning as scheduled due to ownership complications, which have now been resolved.
  • Main Facility Construction: During the legal delay, BBC advanced the construction document phase of preconstruction services, completed by March 20, 2025. BBC has since begun work under the construction contract. Completion of the facility is expected by mid-2028, or late 2027 at the earliest.

Design and Fabrication Progress

  • Architectural Firm: The firm has completed all design phases—schematic design, design development, construction documents, and bidding/negotiation—and is currently in the construction administration phase. Additional responsibilities include A/V systems, data/telecom, security, lighting, acoustics, “green” roof design, and coordination with exhibit designers.
  • Exhibit Design Firm: The firm has completed the design phases and is now working on fabrication and installation, A/V production/integration, exhibit text, and graphic mechanicals. Collaborative review sessions with historians and staff are underway to ensure content accuracy for each gallery.
  • Exhibit Fabrication: A fabrication firm has been selected, and a contract has been signed with the Foundation.

Project Oversight

Plans are in motion to engage an owner’s representative who will provide independent oversight of architects, designers, contractors, and fabricators to ensure the project remains on time and within budget.

Educational Programming

  • The education initiatives program remains active and aligned with the mission.
    • 2023–2024: Three teacher symposia held.
    • 2024–2025: Four symposia held.
    • 2026–2027 (Planned): At least four symposia scheduled.
  • The focus is on helping social studies teachers teach Civil War, Emancipation, and Reconstruction using primary sources. The program aims to reach teachers from all state Department of Public Instruction districts—larger districts may be included twice—by June 2027.

Q12. How many people in the police department are in the positions of Sergeant to Captain?

As of May 15, 45 out of 53 sergeant positions are filled. All 21 lieutenants and 7 captain positions are filled. 


Q13. How much of the budget has already been committed?

The City’s only financial legal obligation is to provide building inspections and pay current debt obligations.


Q14. What is our debt capacity?

Legal Debt Margin


Q15. What is the number of miles for sidewalks and streets laid before bond issuance and afterward? Also, what is the funding stream before and after? (Please state the general fund and ARPA components separately.) 

Note: No ARPA funding was used for streets

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Q16. Can we get a graph showing the residential increases in property value by municipality? 

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Q17. What are the factors behind the delay in Public Infrastructure Projects?

The main factors creating delays are easements/right-of-way needs and utility conflicts.


Q18. Where does the revenue for sidewalks come from?

Sidewalks are currently constructed using funds from GO Bonds, NCDOT, and grants.


Q19. Are District 4 Stormwater flooding issues being addressed in the CIP?

In District 4, the Rosemary Drive project will begin construction this month and the Tryon Drive project will be advertised for construction later in the summer. This was funded in the FY25 CIP. 


Q20. What projects are being built with the 25 million infrastructure GO Bonds? 

An administrative report was shared on Monday, May 12, 2025, detailing status of the projects and expenditures included in the $25 million public infrastructure portion of the 2022 GO Bond. That report can be found HERE. 


Q21. What is the total amount of funds remaining from closed or completed projects that have been completed for more than 6 months? 

Projects identified for closure are listed on page 239-242 of the CIP book. These will be taken to council for closure with the FY26 budget ordinance in June. How these funds were recommended for reallocation can be found on pages 6-7 of the CIP book.

May 29, 2025 - City Council FY 2026 Budget Questions

NOTE: This is a continuation from the previous list of questions.

Q22. What is the dollar amount of available general fund balance over or under policy?

The City’s unassigned fund balance represents both the outcome of the current operating year and the City’s ongoing financial commitments. While the final fund balance will not be known until the annual audit is completed and the exact policy and target thresholds are finalized with the adoption of the budget, it is important to note that the City’s General Fund balance policy requires a minimum unassigned fund balance of 10% of the following year’s expenditures, with a target of 12%. The most reliable indicator of year-end financial performance is cash performance—specifically, revenue more than expenditure. Based on cash operating results as of March 31, 2025, and accounting for the recommended $5,238,500 usage for FY 2026, the estimated unassigned fund balance is $23,273,848, or 11.65% of the FY 2026 Recommended General Fund Budget. This places the City $3,288,178 above the minimum policy requirement, reflecting a strong financial position.


Q23. Please describe the difference between the Police Activities League (PAL) and the youth programs offered by the Parks, Recreation & Maintenance Department.

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation department offers a variety of youth development programs designed to enrich the lives of young participants in Fayetteville, NC. Some of the programs include:

  • Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council: Provides career development experience, life skills education, and volunteer opportunities.
  • College Experience Field Trips: Free trips to regional colleges for students who have participated in an FCPR Youth Development Program.
  • Junior Official Program: Training for officiating youth games, covering decision-making, conflict resolution, and rule enforcement.
  • Junior Scorekeeper Program: Training for keeping score at youth games, with opportunities for future employment.
  • Counselor-In-Training Program: Allows teens to assist camp staff and gain career development experience working with children.
  • Job Shadowing: Matches youth with professionals in their field of interest for hands-on learning.

Alternatively, the Police Activities League (PAL) Program focuses on fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and the community, particularly with at-risk youth. The PAL program provides a constructive outlet for young people through recreational activities, mentorship, and educational programs, helping to build trust, reduce juvenile delinquency, and promote personal development. These valuable programs contribute to crime prevention, strengthen community bonds, and create opportunities for youth to engage with officers in a positive and supportive environment.


Q24. What is the breakdown of personnel and operating expenditures by function within the Police and Fire Departments’ budgets?

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Q25. Please provide a list of the Police and Fire Department requests that were recommended for FY26.

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Q26. What was the date of the information provided in question 16?

This information was taken from a report that Cumberland County provided to the citizens on February 13, 2025. Please note that the information utilized only includes residential property.


Q27. Please provide a breakdown of the sworn and non-sworn full-time equivalents (FTEs) by function within the police department.

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Q28. What would the CIP funding model look like if we paid off our debt earlier?

The next tranche of callable debt occurs in 2028. It will take $26.6 million to pay off the callable bonds, which would save the City $6.1 million. In FY 2028, this would free up $3.9 million of funding for the City Council's use.

 


About Us

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

The mission of the Budget and Evaluation Office is to provide timely and accurate financial information and analysis to aid City Management and the City Council in the allocation of public resources to meet the service, facility and infrastructure needs of the community.

The primary function of the Budget and Evaluation Office is the development, communication and administration of the City’s annual operating budget and capital improvement program. Department staff also serves as internal consultants for evaluation of service delivery plans, including fees for services, to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Specific department responsibilities include:

  • Development of the Annual Operating Budget
  • Administration of the Capital Improvement Process for the development of the Capital Improvement Plans
  • Development of the funding plan for the Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) and Technology Improvement Plans (TIP)
  • Coordination of updates of the Fee Schedule
  • Continuous improvement evaluations and studies

Annual Budget Process

The City’s fiscal year runs from July through June. City Management and staff work to develop a recommended budget from December through April each fiscal year. In May, the City Manager presents a recommended budget for consideration of the City Council. Council deliberates the budget during May and June and provides final direction for the budget it adopts in June. Each fiscal year, the City establishes a budget webpage through which citizens have access to budget documents and presentations, creating an open, transparent process through which citizens can help shape the upcoming fiscal year for the City of Fayetteville and the services provided to citizens.


Budget Process FY 2024

Budget in Brief

Fee Schedule


Budget In Brief

Capital Improvement Plans (CIP)

Technology Improvement Plans (TIP)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does the City have an annual budget?

The budget is a strategic tool that matches services desired by the community with the resources required to provide the services. It is also a tool to help plan, manage and control expenditures. An annual balanced budget ordinance is required by State statute. The City of Fayetteville was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the annual budget documents for Fiscal Years 2016 through 2020.


How much does one penny on the tax rate generate?

Approximately $1.4 million per penny is projected for the General Fund for FY 2021. The current general tax rate is 49.95 cents per $100 of valuation.


Do the property taxes pay for all City services that residents receive?

No, they do not. For example, general property tax revenues for FY2021 are budgeted at $70,707,150. The original budgets for the Police and Fire Departments were $87,183,127, well over the property tax revenues.


Where does the money come from to operate the City?

The money comes from a variety of sources including property tax, sales tax distribution, intergovernmental revenues, solid waste and stormwater fees, other fees and charges for service, and other funding sources.


How is the money generated used?

As would be expected in a service organization, most of the budget funds personnel costs, including payroll, healthcare, and other employee related functions. By function, the budget is spread across public safety, transportation, infrastructure, solid waste, parks/recreation/maintenance and general government/other.


Are the City's finances well managed?

Yes. The City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) is prepared by the Finance Department and has received the Government Finance Officers Association's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the past eleven fiscal years. The City undergoes an independent audit of its financial processes and procedures each year and has received unmodified "clean" opinions, which represents the highest level of assurance.


What is a CIP and why is it important for the City to keep it updated?

The City develops a Capital Improvement Plan, or CIP, which is a five-year work list for planned capital projects that have a minimum cost of $50,000.The City also develops a separate five-year Technology Improvement Plan, or TIP, which is a five-year work list for planned information technology projects that have a minimum cost of $25,000 or have impacts across the organization. The CIP and TIP are key components of disciplined financial planning and budgeting processes as viewed by bond rating agencies, financial institutions and citizens. Our CIP and TIP are prioritized by Strategic Plan initiatives; operational mandates or safety considerations; maintenance of existing facilities, infrastructure and technology; funding from other sources (i.e. grants); efficiency enhancements; and service enhancements and quality of life. Projects are generally for infrastructure and facilities, significant maintenance plus major technology and software projects and upgrades. As the City regularly re-evaluates its needs, the CIP and TIP are updated, as well. As critical needs are planned, there is also the opportunity to plan for funding sources.


Budget & Evaluation Staff

Vacant, Budget & Evaluation Director

Staff Title Phone Email
Coaxum, Jerome Budget & Evaluation Analyst (910) 433-1252 JeromeCoaxum@FayettevilleNC.gov
VACANT Budget & Evaluation Director (910) 433-1615  
Loewen, Sarah Budget & Evaluation Analyst (910) 433-1379 SarahLoewen@FayettevilleNC.gov
Wolfhope, Tiffany Budget & Evaluation Analyst (910) 433-1380 TiffanyWolfhope@fayettevillenc.gov
Xayaphet, Priscilla Budget & Evaluation Analyst (910) 433-1381 PriscillaXayaphet@fayettevillenc.gov