City of Charlotte Releases Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

Published on May 01, 2023

CHARLOTTE, N.C (May 1, 2023) – City Manager Marcus D. Jones on Monday presented his Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget to the Mayor and members of City Council.

“The City of Charlotte has a very strong financial foundation, built upon years of sound financial management. Over the last several years, the city has shown commitment to optimizing the use of funds and continually reassessing the needs of a growing city,” said City Manager Marcus Jones. “Our focus has been and continues to be providing exceptional core services to our neighbors and addressing community needs that have been identified through City Council’s priorities and key initiatives, while not putting an additional burden on our residents. We all understand the economic challenges faced by many in the past few years. I am proud that the budget we are proposing maintains a revenue-neutral rate, is built without a city property tax increase, continues our commitment to be a well-managed government, and invests in our residents and employees.”

Highlights of the proposed FY 2024 budget include:

• A balanced and fiscally responsible budget that:
• • Does not increase taxes.
  • Does not lay off or furlough employees.
  • Maintains or enhances core services.
  • Maintains operating reserves.

• A continued focus on retaining and investing in our employees:
  • Provides a 6% salary increase for all General Hourly Employees (3% increases in both July and January).
  • Provides a 4% salary pool for salaried employees.
  • Adds 29 apprenticeships.
    • 15 bus maintenance technicians.
    • 10 Solid Waste equipment operators.
    • Four masons in Charlotte Department of Transportation.
  • Adds a position dedicated to workforce development with career coaching.
  • Continues flexible work options for feasible positions.
  • At least an 8% salary increase for all police officers and sergeants.
  • Increases starting officer pay by 10.5%; new starting salary of $62,911 for an officer with a four-year degree.
  • Adds 25 additional take-home cars for veteran police officers.
  • Adds 5% step to Fire Fighter ll and 2.5% top step to fire engineers and to fire captains.
  • Provides for an increase to the annual contribution to retiree health savings for sworn positions hired on or after July 1, 2009, by 25% beginning in January. 
• An investment in our residents by ensuring a safe, clean and equitable future:

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  • Allocates $300,000 toward maintaining the Bike Share program.
  • Provides $6 million to complete the three-year public-private funding commitment toward establishing the Charlotte Arts & Culture plan that will be completed this year.

     

  • Continues to be a leader in municipal sustainability led by initiatives outlined in the Strategic Energy Action Plan, such as:
    • Investing in sustainable infrastructure:
      • Purchasing 45 electric and 154 hybrid vehicles.
      • Expanding charging and solar infrastructure.
    • Exploring new opportunities:
      • Adding first net-zero carbon police division station.
      • Adding first electric refuse truck in Solid Waste.
      • Adding first electric semi-truck.
  • Invests in fire infrastructure and provides two additional fire companies and 42 fire staff.
  • Supports Corridors of Opportunities with a $5 million dollar investment for the implementation of playbooks, continued engagement, and partnerships.
  • $250,000 to continue partnership with Atrium for Hospital-Based Violence Prevention Program.
  • Adds two new sites to the Alternatives to Violence Program – West Boulevard and Nations Ford/Arrowwood areas.
  • Protects quality of life for residents by adding a four-person Rapid-Response Code Enforcement Team and an additional litter crew from the Center for Employment Opportunities.
  • Supports Animal Care and Control needs with two new positions and an additional $56,000 toward animal food and medical supplies.

  Additional Budget Highlights

  Economic Development

  • Continues Charlotte Business Inclusion support with $1 million and three new positions to continue implementing programs and increase vendor outreach.
    • Programs funding to continue AmpUP and NXTCLT small and minority business assistance programs.
  • Supports closing the digital divide with two additional staff resources to work through phase two of Access Charlotte.

   

  Great Neighborhoods

• Provides $4.2 million in ARPA funds toward the HOMES program in partnership with the county to provide assistance that directly reduces the city tax bill by up to 25% for eligible applicants.
• Adds a four-person Rapid-Response Code Enforcement Team, an additional litter crew through the Center for Employment Opportunities and looks to increase citations for illegal parking to preserve quality of life in our neighborhoods.
• Includes a total of $3.38 million in funding for tree canopy preservation, including $2 million for tree maintenance and $1.375 million for replacing trees.

   

  Safe Communities

• $250,000 to continue partnership with Atrium for Hospital-Based Violence Prevention Program.
• Adds two new sites to the Alternatives to Violence Program – West Boulevard and Nations Ford/Arrowwood areas.

Transportation and Planning

• Allocates $300,000 toward maintaining the Bike Share program.
• Supports Corridors of Opportunities with a $5 million dollar investment for implementation of playbooks, continued engagement, and partnerships.

Although there is no city property tax increase, the proposed budget does include three service fee increases – Solid Waste ($0.72 monthly increase), Storm Water (4.6% which equates to a $0.43 monthly increase for the typical customer) and Water (4.25% which equates to $3.10 monthly increase for the typical customer).

The proposed budget will have a public hearing on May 8, followed by budget adjustments on May 11 and straw votes on May 25. Council will consider the budget for adoption on June 12. The 2024 fiscal year begins July 1, 2023.

To learn more about these and other important initiatives of the proposed FY 2024 budget, please visit charlottenc.gov/budget.