Budget Development

The budget is an instrument to set policy and summarize public services provided by the City of Charlotte. It is the annual plan for coordinating revenues and expenditures.

If you live, visit, or work in Charlotte, you use valuable city services. These services are made possible through the city budget, which sets the plan for prioritizing and funding city-provided infrastructure and services.

Overview of the Budget Process

The city’s annual budget is based on a July 1 – June 30 fiscal year and is guided by the following five City Council adopted Strategic Priorities.

Great Neighborhoods

Safe Communities

Transportation, Planning, and Environment

Workforce and Business Development

Well-Managed Government

Each Strategic Priority contains policy initiatives driven by the needs of the community and the organization. The budget process is used to assess and allocate resources to achieve optimal service delivery and advance progress in achievement of the Strategic Priorities. The operating and capital budgets are developed in two phases:

Phase 1 (January – April)

Budget policy development, which is composed of the following:

  • City Council engagement regarding policy direction.

  • Department services review.

  • Staff engagement on performance management activities.

Phase 2 (May – June)

Budget deliberations and adoption, which are composed of the following:

  • A presentation of the City Manager's Proposed Budget to the Mayor and City Council.

  • Community engagement and feedback through the Public Hearing process.

  • City Council adoption of the budget by June 30.

 

How to Get Involved

 

      

Community Engagement

The city is currently developing the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget and has requested input from residents. Reach out to strategyandbudget@charlottenc.gov with any budget-related questions you may have.

Budget Public Hearing

The city manager presented the FY 2024 Proposed Budget on May 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held during the May 8, 2023 Business Meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. To sign up to speak at the public hearing, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 704.336.7600 or sign-up Online Speaker Sign Up Form

 

Budget Community Input Survey

The City of Charlotte’s Annual Budget Community Input Survey was available until April 9, 2023 for residents to residents to provide feedback on how the city should prioritize its funding. Feedback from the survey will be provided to City Council members in the April 6, 2023, Budget Workshop follow-up packet, and will help the council and the city manager develop a budget that meets the community's needs.

The Balancing Act Budget Simulator

The city's budget simulation tool, Balancing Act, was available until April 9, 2023 for the FY 2024 budget process. Balancing Act allows residents to prepare their own version of the budget by adjusting expenses and revenues. The results of the simulations will be included in the April 6, 2023 Budget Workshop follow-up packet, and will help the council and the city manager develop a budget that meets the community's needs.

Budget Listening Sessions

Budget Listening Session Presentation(PDF, 1MB)