North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte City Council has adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget. FY 2024 for the city begins on July 1, 2023.

Highlights of the Adopted FY 2024 budget include:

A balanced and fiscally responsible budget that:

• Does not increase property 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 the greater of $3,600 or 6% salary increase for all General Hourly Employees (greater of $1,800 or 3% increases in both July and January)
• Increases the minimum pay for hourly pay plan employees to $46,200 by January.
• Provides a 4% salary pool for salaried employees.
• Adds 29 apprenticeships.
• 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 hourly police officers and sergeants.
• Increases starting pay for police officers and firefighters by 10.5% by January.
• Adds 25 additional take-home cars for veteran police officers.
• Provides a 5.5% to 8.0% salary increase for all hourly Firefighters.
• 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 promoting a safe, clean and equitable future:

• Invests in fire infrastructure with five new fire stations in the 5-year CIP 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.
• 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.
• Includes $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
• Adds one position to monitor programs related to SAFE Charlotte.
• Supports Animal Care and Control needs with two new positions.
• 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 station.
    • Adding first electric refuse truck in Solid Waste Services.

• 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.

Investments for economic opportunities:

• Creates a special assistant to the city manager to work on workforce development initiatives.
• 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.

Support for 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.
• 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.

Although there is no property tax increase, the adopted budget does include fee increases for Solid Waste, Storm Water, and Water. Increases for the typical customer equate to: Solid Waste ($0.72 monthly increase), Storm Water ($0.43 monthly increase), and Water ($3.10 monthly increase).

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

Original source can be found here