Cumberland County may be operating on a tighter budget next year after County Manager Clarence Grier presented his recommended plan for fiscal year 2024-25 to the board of commissioners Thursday.
The $584.3 million budget faces constraints because of local inflation calculated at 3.3%, reduced consumer spending that led to minimal growth in sales tax, high interest rates and supply chain issues with finding contractors for capital projects, as well as challenges like the tough labor market, Grier said.
If approved, the budget would go into effect July 1 for the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2025. Unlike last year’s budget, which saw a bevy of new initiatives, this year’s would only include one, a $150,000 doula program to help the underinsured and uninsured access more childbirthing services, Grier said.
Here’s everything you need to know about the proposed budget:
Spending how much on what?
According to the draft budget, if approved, the county would spend 3% of its revenue on culture and recreation, 2% on economic and physical development, 27% on education, 15% on general government operations, 33% on human services and 20% on public safety.
Priorities for this year’s budget included the construction of the new Crown Event Center in downtown Fayetteville, providing clean public water to the Gray’s Creek community, building the Homeless Support Center, public health and employee recruitment and retention, Grier said.
Of the $584.3 million budget, proposed expenditures include:
- $8.2 million for the Gray’s Creek public water access project
- $1.3 million to replace 17 county vehicles
- $94.9 million for Cumberland County public schools (this includes $5.3 million for additional school health nurse, school resource officer and crossing guard positions)
- $16.7 million for Fayetteville Technical Community College (this includes $1.25 million in capital project expenses)
- $21 million for the Solid Waste Fund
In total, the budget accounts for over $584 million in expenses, representing a 3.5% increase over the fiscal year 2024 budget, according to a county news release. Grier rejected 18 new positions proposed by county departments but eliminated eight positions to save $502,190, the draft budget states.
State mandates like increased employer contributions to retirement funds and an increase in autopsy fees paid by the county from $1,750 to $3,625 put additional strains on the budget, Grier said. Additionally, the county is anticipating a 3.1% decrease (roughly $2 million) in sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2025 and a $757,316 decrease in revenues from other taxes, according to the proposed budget. However, the county is projecting a 2.4% increase in property tax revenue, according to the release.
What does that mean for me?
Unlike its counterpart of the city of Fayetteville, the county is not recommending increasing its property tax rate, which currently sits at 79.9 cents per $100 valuation, he said.
However, residents will see fee increases under the solid waste department due to the diminishing capacity of the Ann Street landfill, which is projected to reach capacity by 2030, Grier said.
According to Grier’s presentation, solid waste fees would change as follows:
- An increase in annual user fees, which every household pays, from $93 to $130
- An increased fee of $65 per ton or $3.25 per 100 pounds for tire disposal
- A City of Fayetteville Yard Waste rate of $11.25 per ton or 57 cents per 100 pounds
- $11.25 per ton or 57 cents per 100 pounds for wooden pallets, clean lumber and clean logs
“Those fees will provide increased funding of approximately $4 million next fiscal year if approved,” Grier said.
According to the proposed budget, that would help pay for the cost of transporting residents’ waste from the Ann Street landfill to privately owned landfills in other counties.
“We’re going to need a transfer station in order to keep the capacity and not go over capacity and fill up the landfill,” Grier said.
Share your thoughts
Under North Carolina law, the board of commissioners cannot approve the proposed budget until at least 10 days after it has been presented, and the board must hold a public hearing before doing so. That will take place at 7 p.m. on June 5 in Room 118 of the Cumberland County courthouse, according to a county news release.
Residents can also hear commissioners’ thoughts on the budget during a May 30 work session at 5:30 p.m. in Room 564 of the courthouse, the release said.
Additional work sessions may be held on the following dates as needed:
- 5:30 p.m. June 11 in Room 564 of the courthouse
- 5:30 p.m. June 19 in Room 564 of the courthouse
- 1 p.m. June 20 in Room 564 of the courthouse
The board must approve a budget by July 1, according to North Carolina law.
Those wishing to speak at the public hearing must sign up beforehand. A sign-up sheet will be available in the room, but speakers can also sign up by calling the clerk to the board at 910-678-7771, emailing atebbe@cumberlandcountync.gov or registering online.
Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.
This story was made possible by contributions to CityView News Fund, a 501c3 charitable organization committed to an informed democracy.
