City Manager Marcus D. Jones presented his proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget to the Mayor and Charlotte City Council on Monday, highlighting the city’s priorities, values and investments for the upcoming year and beyond.
The proposed budget supports strategic initiatives that will prioritize:
Well-Managed Government
- Proposing a budget that aligns with Mayor and City Council priorities, including neighborhood development, transportation and planning, and economic development, and establishing internal work teams to align with those priorities
- Remaining structurally balanced with a $2.6 billion budget
- Proposing no property tax increase for the fiscal year, with a revenue neutral rate of 34.81 cents per $100 assessed valuation
- Implementing changes to return departments to their core missions and functions, increasing efficiency and expertise
- Reinforcing constant analysis, evaluation, and estimate revisions to allow for proper planning, management, and project delivery
Recognition of Team Charlotte
- Providing a 3 percent combined increase for general employees
- Providing a 1.5 percent market adjustment and a step for public safety pay plan employees
- Increasing the City of Charlotte’s minimum wage to $16 an hour by the end of FY 2020
- A minimum pay increase of $2,080 for all general employees with a positive performance review to help address upward mobility in the organization
- No increase in 2020 health insurance premiums for City of Charlotte employees
- Addressing police department pay inequities through a 5 percent pay increase for all sergeants and a 5 percent pay increase in top pay for police officers through the Senior Police Officer Program
- Rewarding firefighters, including a 2.5 pay percent increase for all fire captains and top-step Engineers, and an increase in the city’s Firefighter 401k contribution by 1 percent in January
- Launching new initiatives for employees based on feedback, including annual supervisor training, development of a career ladder tool box, and increased employee appreciation
Investments in Our Neighborhoods
- Reserving capacity for a $25 million 2020 housing bond for a total of $50 million towards implementation of the city’s affordable housing strategy
- Additional support for other housing programming with $7 million to be used primarily for Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH)
- Investing $1.8 million in Charlotte’s Eastside and Westside neighborhoods
- Investing $4.2 billion in capital investment over the next five years through projects for aviation, transit, water, and stormwater
- Keeping Charlotte clean with a $1 per month increase in the Solid Waste Services fee, which will add two new crews and two new trucks to address demand, as well as prepare our city for the future of waste collection and disposal
- Accelerating training for police officers, with an additional $2 million to provide multidisciplinary training
- Preserving our natural environment with the implementation of the Strategic Energy Action Plan and a planned opening of the Innovation Barn in 2019
Enhanced Opportunity for All
- Establishing the Office of Equity, Mobility, and Immigrant Integration, which will leverage existing resources to enhance access to government services and economic opportunity
- Increasing funding for the microgrant program from $100,000 to $500,000, creating more opportunities for innovative ideas that will transform the community
- Investing an additional $300,000 in Project PIECE 2.0, a program designed to provide training and job placement which will result in increased upward mobility
- Providing $1.5 million combined over two years to the Aging in Place Program, which helps seniors stay in their homes
- Fostering innovation with $2.1 million in economic development initiatives focusing on small and minority-owned businesses, as well as new business creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship
Enhanced Mobility, Accessibility and Connectivity
- Working together with residents to create livable, unique spaces for Charlotte’s residents with an additional $250,000 to the Placemaking Program
- Investing $550,000 for Comprehensive Plan engagement and implementation, which will help shape Charlotte’s future for decades to come
- Fully funding the planned and designed segments of the Cross Charlotte Trail
As the budget development process continues, next steps include:
- May 8 – Council Budget Briefing
- May 13 – Council Budget Public Hearing
- May 22 – Budget Briefing
- May 23 – Budget Adjustments
- May 29 – Budget Adjustments/Straw Votes
- June 10 – Budget Adoption
To learn more about these and other important initiatives of the proposed FY 2020 budget and upcoming meeting, visit charlottenc.gov/budget.
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The City of Charlotte provides services to more than 860,000 residents. The city’s focus areas are Housing and Neighborhood Development, Community Safety, Transportation and Planning, Economic Development and the Environment. For the latest news about city government, visit the Citywide Newsroom. From our website, you can sign up to receive email updates on city topics that interest you through the Notify Me service.
