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The City of Charlotte’s budget includes an annual operating budget and a five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The Strategic Operating Plan (SOP) is a major policy document that communicates City Council’s priorities and the resources needed to achieve the priorities. The FY2013 recommended City Budget is highlighted below.
FY2013 Recommended City Budget
As part of the FY2013 budget development process, the City Manager proposed a new CIP to City Council that invests in corridors, increases connections, and improves communities. The proposed investment plan funds $926.4 million in infrastructure improvements from 2012 through 2020, includes four bond referenda, and is funded by a 3.6-cent property tax rate increase – increasing the current rate from 43.7 cents per $100 valuation to 47.3 cents. The information below – and documents listed to the right – provides details on the proposed CIP.
Capital Budget
The recommended CIP focuses on the following community outcomes:
The recommended budget includes a 3.6¢ property tax increase to fund these community investments. The recommended property tax rate is 47.3¢ per $100 valuation (for example, $946 annually on a $200,000 home). This increase funds the proposed $926.4 million General CIP over four bond referenda cycles (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).
Please visit www.charlottefuture.com for detailed information on the City of Charlotte’s recommended CIP.
Operating Budget
General Fund
The operating budget represents the second year of the City’s biennial budget. For the second straight year, only a few base operating budget changes are recommended in the General Fund. The General Fund budget totals $552.2 million, a 3.77% increase over the FY2012 revised budget.
General Fund operating budget highlights include:
Police
- Funding for 50 Police officers previously funded by a Federal stimulus grant
- Retain four Crime Analysts previously funded by a Federal stimulus
- Three new Telecommunicators (100% reimbursed by the Town of Huntersville)
Vehicle Maintenance and Fuel Adjustments
- $1.4 million increase in vehicle maintenance and repair costs due to increased average age of City vehicle fleet and increased parts and material costs
- $1.1 million increase due to sustained, high fuel prices
Solid Waste Services
- Elimination of Supplemental Multi-Family disposal reimbursements, resulting in a decrease to the annual multi-family solid waste fee (multi-family service frequency continues once-per-week, similar to single-family frequency)
- Increase in disposal fees charged by Mecklenburg County impacting single-family and multi-family rates; the adjusted annual solid waste fees are $47 for single-family homes and $24 for multi-family units
Enterprise Funds
The operating budget also includes some increases in rates and charges that fund growing service demands in the Enterprise Funds. The average monthly water/sewer bill will increase $3.30 going from $56.23 to $59.53, and the average monthly storm water fees will rise 42¢ from $7.06 to $7.48. For the Charlotte Area Transit System, the FY2013 budget includes a 25¢ base fare increase.
Compensation and Benefits
- Public Safety Pay Plan (PSPP) step adjustments of 2.5% or 5% plus a 1.5% PSPP market adjustment for sworn public safety employees
- 3% merit budget for non-sworn employees
- Addition of same sex domestic partner benefits
FY2013 Remaining Budget Meeting Schedule
- May 16, 2012 – Budget Adjustments Meeting, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- May 29, 2012 – Budget Public Hearing on Recommended FY2013 Budget, 7:00 p.m.
- May 30, 2012 – Budget Adjustments and Straw Votes, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- June 11, 2012 – Budget Adoption, 7:00 p.m.
Residents may speak at the public hearing on May 29. To sign up, call (704) 336-2248.
All meetings occur in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 E 4th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.
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