Good morning. Fayetteville’s property tax rate would decrease substantially under City Manager Doug Hewett’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, which he presented at Monday’s Fayetteville City Council meeting.
The recommended budget puts the property tax rate at 44.95 cents per $100 of assessed value, representing a 13-cent decrease from last year.
While the 13-cent property tax decrease could bring some relief to Fayetteville property owners, it could also be offset by the latest property revaluation, in which residents across the county saw their home values skyrocket, writes Evey Weisblat. More in our lead story today.
Welcome to CityView Today. Over in Spring Lake, Town Manager Jon Rorie presented commissioners with an initial proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The town aims to make preparations for an impending budget shortfall due to recent sales tax collection changes. Fayetteville City Council Member Kathy Keefe Jensen announced Monday she is running to become the city’s next mayor. Jensen first confirmed her candidacy to CityView in late March, but the campaign announcement marks the longtime councilwoman’s formal entrance into a competitive mayoral election this fall. Plus, Senior Columnist Bill Kirby Jr. remembers a beloved Fayetteville father.
Thanks for reading,
Maydha Devarajan
Editor-in-Chief
First look at Fayetteville’s budget: decreased property tax rate, no fee increases
The budget also accounts for the change to the county’s sales tax distribution.
More from CityView
Spring Lake begins budget talks
Spring Lake Town Manager Jon Rorie presented commissioners with an initial proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Kathy Jensen, longtime city council member, formally announces mayoral run
Jensen is currently the mayor pro tem and serves as the District 1 representative on the Fayetteville City Council.
THE KIRBY FILE: Remember me not for how I died, Grant Singleton wanted us to know, but for how I lived
“If everyone had a father like I did,” a son says about his father in an emotional farewell at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, “they’d want to be a kid forever.”
Events
CANOE HIKE
- Where: Carvers Creek State Park – Long Valley Farm Access, 2505 Long Valley Road, Spring Lake
- When: 10 a.m.-noon today
- What: This is a slow and calm paddling experience and great for beginners or for those who want to get a closer look at the cypress trees.
A GARDEN GATHERING AT CFBG
- Where: Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville
- When: 5:30-9:30 p.m. today
- What: Please join Friends of Cape Fear Botanical Garden for our Annual Event – A Garden Gathering. Presented by Mercedes-Benz of Fayetteville, this is a limited ticket event to raise awareness and support for the Garden’s mission.
PRE-SEASON SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
- Where: 5032 Bastogne Drive, Fort Bragg
- When: Noon today
- What: Join us for this exciting pre-season softball tournament!
Obituaries
Anthony Carl Shepley
Anthony Carl Shepley, 37, passed away on Tuesday, May 6.
Timothy Carl McNeill
Timothy Carl McNeill passed away peacefully on Friday, May 2.
Ailla Mae Prince
Ailla Mae Prince, 83, of Fayetteville, passed away on Friday, May 9.
Until tomorrow!
🐝 The Cumberland County Beekeepers Association is collecting cane sugar donations through this Friday, May 16, to help beekeepers in western North Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. The association has set a goal of collecting 2,000 pounds. For more information, including where you can drop off donations, click here.
~ Maydha
