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Council Budget Questions - May 22, 2025
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.
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?
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
Q16. Can we get a graph showing the residential increases in property value by municipality?
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.
Council Budget Questions - May 29, 2025
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?
Q25. Please provide a list of the Police and Fire Department requests that were recommended for FY26.
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.
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.