Strategy & Budget

About Strategy and Budget

The Strategy and Budget Department​ is responsible for the development and oversight of the City of Charlotte's annual operating budget and five-year Capital Investment Plan.

Strategy and​ Budget provides policy and management analysis, coordination of the City Council's business agenda and administration of the organization's performance management and strategic planning processes.

Discussion topics included:

Shared resident feedback from the city-held series of "Meet & Eat" events at different locations. Top resident priorities included housing and neighborhoods, transportation, economic development, public transit and police.

General Fund (preliminary revenue and expenditure information on the General Fund)

Highlights of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) proposed FY19 budget, which was presented to the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) in January 2018. CATS is not recommending a fare increase for FY19.

An overview of the general debt model, current Community Investment Plan (CIP) programs and a status update on select CIP projects.

General discussion on pay and benefits for city employees, policies and recruitment strategies.

Download and review materials from the workshop>>

Watch the full budget workshop>>

​​The second fiscal year (FY) budget for 2019 was held on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Discussion topics included:

The City of Charlotte as an "employer of choice" by:

  • Providing better pay and benefit options, including how to fund citywide salary increases; providing incentives and retiree health benefits; and providing new medical plans and paid parental leave.
  • Reviewing cost estimates for police and fire employees pay.
  • Establishing funding for long-range capital investments program through the Community Investment Plan (CIP). CIP is used to guide the planning, design and construction of neighborhood projects such as roads and sidewalks. Discussion about the CIP included building public safety facilities and making long-term investments in neighborhoods with a focus on:
    • The city's plan to build six new police stations.
    • Important infrastructure needs such as affordable housing, roads and city facilities.
    • Balancing the budget.

Download and review workshop materials>>

Watch the full budget workshop>>

​On April 11, Charlotte City Council held the third and final scheduled budget workshop for fiscal year 2019. Three major things came out of the discussions:

  • Potential rate increases for Charlotte Water, Storm Water Services and Solid Waste Services to continue existing service levels and meet the demands of a growing city.
  • Re-evaluating some previously planned large capital projects to ensure our infrastructure projects align to current community needs.
  • Continue support for community organizations who provide services that support the city's goals and objectives such as housing programs and after school programs.

View workshop materials for the April 11 budget workshop>>

Watch the full budget workshop >>  

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Council discussed and conducted preliminary votes on adjustments to the Proposed FY 2019 Budget during a meeting on May 30 and a special City Council meeting on June 4.

 

Additional resources:

June 4 special City Council meeting (Video) 
May 30 Workshop agenda (PDF)
May 30 Workshop Part 1 (video)
May 30 Workshop Part 2 (video)
May 30 Workshop Part 3 (video)

 

 

City Manager proposes FY 2021 budget

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlotte’s proposed FY 2021 budget plan focuses on demonstrating our resilience as we actively move toward financial recovery and advancing Council’s strategic priorities. The total Proposed FY 2021 budget is $2.55 billion. The total budget proposal is comprised of the annual operating budget and the Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The annual operating budget reflects day-to-day operations, while the CIP represents large capital outlays over a five-year time horizon.

FY 2021 Manager’s Proposed Budget

FY 2021 City Manager’s Proposed Budget Presentation

  1. Manager’s Letter

  2. Executive Summary + Overview + Summary Statistics and Policies

  3. Strategic Priorities and Performance Measures

  4. General Fund Departments

  5. Enterprise Funds

  6. Special Revenue Funds

  7. Capital Investment Plan

    1. Introduction and Summary Schedules

    2. PAYGO

    3. Advanced Planning

    4. Transportation, Planning, and Environment

    5. Neighborhood Development

    6. Economic Development

    7. Well-Managed Government

  8. User Fees

  9. Compensation and Benefits

City Council adopts the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

On June 10, 2019, Charlotte City Council voted to adopt the $2.6 billion FY 2020 budget. The budget ​is an action-oriented spending plan that works to ensure an equitable, sustainable and resilient Charlotte. The budget goes into effect on July 1, 2019..

Resources:
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Adopted Budget Book
Adopted FY 2020 Budget in Brief (PDF)​
Adopted FY 2020 Budget in Brief Spanish (PDF)
News release June 10, 2019
Budget Discussion June 10, 2019 (video)
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City Council adopts the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

On June 10, 2019, Charlotte City Council voted to adopt the $2.6 billion FY 2020 budget. The budget ​is an action-oriented spending plan that works to ensure an equitable, sustainable and resilient Charlotte. The budget goes into effect on July 1, 2019..

Resources:
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Adopted Budget Book
Adopted FY 2020 Budget in Brief (PDF)​
Adopted FY 2020 Budget in Brief Spanish (PDF)
News release June 10, 2019
Budget Discussion June 10, 2019 (video)
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Upcoming events

​Budget Development

Council Budget Committee 

Glossary of terms 

Adopted Budgets

FY2020 Adopted Budget.pdf

FY2019 Adopted Budget.pdf

FY2018 Adopted Budget.pdf

​Resources

​Budget cycles

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From June to October, the Office of Strategy & Budget works with the Department of Management & Financial Services to close the books on the prior fiscal year (FY). Questions like these are also part of the close-out:

  • Did the city end with savings, where revenues exceeded expenditures?
  • What influenced the local economy and how did this impact the city's financial performance?
  • What are the national, state and local economic trends affecting the city?

​​Each year, October to May is considered budget season, the time of year when City Council and city leaders analyze and review the current budget to create a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

This nine-month process includes a series of budget workshops where proposed expenditures and requests are discussed in detail.