Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Invests in Public Safety, Mobility

Published on May 04, 2026

The Uptown Charlotte skyline

City Manager Marcus D. Jones presented the city’s Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget to the Mayor and members of City Council. 

“I am pleased to propose a balanced budget that not only invests in meeting the needs of our growing community with a specific focus in public safety but also positions our city to capitalize on the recent voter approved one-cent sales tax for mobility investments,” said City Manager Marcus Jones. “This budget reflects our ongoing commitment to the high level of service our community relies on, and it provides the added resources needed to enhance public safety and invest in our growing city.” 

Highlights of the Proposed FY 2027 Budget include: 

Maintaining a Strong Financial Foundation 

  • Presents a structurally balanced budget with a two-year lens that:
    • Proposes a 1.89 cent property tax increase dedicated to enhancing public safety
    • Preserves core services
    • Maintains reserves
  • $4.49 billion budget net of transfers, including Aviation, the Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte Water, Storm Water, and the general government funds  
  • $1.04 billion General Fund budget; a 10.5 percent increase from FY 2026 
  • Continues Charlotte’s achievement of affordability for government services, ranking lowest among North Carolina’s largest cities with a population of 250,000 or above 
  • Continues efforts to align with established budget principles that support organizational wellbeing; including maximizing cost recovery for applicable services through user fees
    • FY 2027 marks year two of increasing the cost recovery rate for Solid Waste curbside services with the goal to reach 50-percent cost recovery by FY 2029 

Advancing City Council’s Strategic Priorities 

  • Promotes public safety with numerous investments
    • Continues efforts around retention and recruitment for public safety personnel
      • Provides 10 percent pay increase for sworn Police personnel in the Public Safety Pay Plan
      • Provides 7 percent pay increase for sworn Fire personnel in the Public Safety Pay Plan
      • Continues military, education, language, and shift differential incentives
      • Supports additional funding necessary for overtime, retirement, and other personnel expenses
        • Includes $2.3 million to add Engine 46 at Miranda Rd. Infill Station to improve response times
        • Adds Civilian Support to Improve Fire Training and Response Times (2 FTEs) 
        • Adds an additional 35 cars for the police take home vehicle program
        • Provides $4 million in funding for Fire turnout gear and other critical safety equipment
        • Invests $10 million to construct a new helicopter hangar for Police, with another $10 million planned in FY 2028 
  • Includes new steady state Housing Bond (FY 2027-FY 2031) with $100 million steady state
    • Adds one-time $25 million increase in 2026 Bond to support ant-displacement for a total 2026 Housing Bond of $125 million
    • Largest housing bond in city history 

Investing in Small Businesses and Neighborhoods 

  • Supports Business District Organizations/Main Street program ($600,000) 
  • Expands Neighbors Building Neighborhoods ($500,000) 
  • Revitalizes Business Corridors with Business Matching Grant program ($500,000) 

Advancing Mobility Goals 

  • New Sales Tax in FY 2027, $100 million in FY 2027 for Mobility 
  • Proposes the second, $300 million total Transportation and Neighborhood Bonds:
    • $5 million more in SIAs than 2024 Bond (from $55 million to $60 million) for strategic resurfacing projects
    • $2 million more in Vision Zero than 2024 Bond (from $10 million to $22 million total) for signal projects with highest priority for transportation safety
    • $2 million more in Bicycle Facilities than 2024 Bond (from $8 million to $10 million)
    • $2 million to begin the new Orphan Roads program
    • Accelerates seven projects in five years – Big Moves 2030 
  • Invests $5.95 million in Mobility+ programming to proactively build workforce and small business capacity alongside increased capital transportation investments 

Continuing Focus on Retaining and Investing in Team Charlotte: 

  • Raises minimum pay to $25/hour for city employees bringing the proposed minimum salary for full-time non-temporary employees to $52,000 
  • Budgets for a four percent pay increase for all hourly employees comprised of a market rate adjustment and merit pool  
  • Provides a four percent merit pool for salaried employees 
  • Continues 2.5 percent incentive pay for 2nd and 3rd shifts; Pre-Paid Tuition Assistance and Career Coaching; CATS All-Access Transit Pass; Career coaching; Rental and downpayment assistance; Financial counseling and assistance; 2.5 percent for CDL General Employees 

Supporting Foundational Initiatives 

  • Advances Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP) goals with:
  • Leverages existing funding to continue implementation efforts around the GreenPrints initiative, a campaign aimed at addressing pressing environmental challenges in under-resourced communities 
  • Invests in Youth
    • Adds $500,000 in FY 2027 to support youth internships
    • Commits $1.5 million to Road to Hire: R2H Public-Private Partnerships 

To support the continued growth of the city and invest in critical infrastructure, the Proposed Budget includes two other service fee increases – Storm Water (which equates to a $0.48 monthly increase for the typical customer) and Water and Sewer (which equates to a $4.41 monthly increase for the typical customer). 

The Proposed FY 2027 Budget will have a Public Hearing on May 11, followed by Budget Adjustments on May 18, and Straw Votes on June 1. Council will consider the budget for adoption on June 8. The 2027 fiscal year begins July 1, 2026. 

Learn more about these and other important initiatives of the proposed FY 2027 budget online.

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