The Fayetteville City Council spent its second budget work session searching for ways to avoid a property‑tax increase while debating unfunded requests.
Rachel Heimann Mercader
Rachel Heimann Mercader was CityView's government reporter, covering the City of Fayetteville, from October 2025 to September 2026. She has reported in Memphis, the Bay Area in California, Naples, Florida, and Chicago, covering a wide range of stories that center community impact and institutional oversight.
Posted inBusiness & Economy
Fayetteville Courts Developers to Reimagine 9-Acre Site Near Downtown
The city wants to transform the long‑studied Blount and Gillespie streets site into a mixed‑use district with housing, retail, and public space while preserving the historic E.E. Smith House.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Fayetteville Proposes $322 Million Budget With Modest Property Tax Increase
Fayetteville’s city manager proposed a $322 million budget that leans on a 3‑cent tax increase as council members pressed for clarity on revenue gaps, raises, and past spending promises.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Fayetteville Moves to Finish Long‑Promised Market House Upgrades
A unanimous Fayetteville City Council vote Monday unlocks the construction work needed to finish the Market House’s pedestrian and streetscape upgrades.
Posted inPolitics & Government
A Resident’s Guide to Fayetteville’s Budget Process
The budget process starts long before the City Council approves it in June. Residents play a role at several key moments, from early feedback to a public hearing before it’s approved.
Posted inEconomic Development
Fayetteville to Explore Building Downtown Convention Center
Mayor Mitch Colvin urged the City Council to explore a city‑led feasibility study for a downtown convention center, arguing the city must take charge of revitalization after years of county investments outside the area.
Posted inPolitics & Government
‘How Did We Get Here?’: Hope Mills Mayor Responds to Critical Audit of Town Finances
Town officials blamed outdated, unapproved policies and urgent safety needs for the audit’s findings, pledging tighter controls going forward.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Hope Mills Audit Uncovers Deep Financial Mismanagement
A state audit found Hope Mills drained its savings, skirted budget rules, approved raises without documentation, and mishandled public funds in ways that could exhaust cash by 2028.
Posted inSports
Fayetteville Breaks Ground on McArthur Road Sports Complex
Fayetteville leaders broke ground on the long‑planned McArthur Road Sports Complex, a $21 million project they say will expand recreation for residents while drawing sports‑tourism events that boost the city’s economy.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Sober Living Home Ignites Opposition in Haymount Neighborhood
City officials and residents say the business violates zoning rules; the owner says she’s being harassed and unfairly targeted.
