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Charlotte Council adopts FY2027 budget with public-safety pay parity and $125M housing trust fund
Summary
The City Council on June 8 adopted the FY2027 operating budget, approving a property-tax increase dedicated largely to public safety, a $25/hour city minimum, and a $125 million housing trust fund while several members warned about combined tax and fee impacts on residents.
The Charlotte City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2027 operating budget on June 8, approving measures intended to boost public safety pay, raise the city’s minimum wage for employees to $25 an hour and direct $125 million toward a housing trust fund.
Council members and staff said the budget prioritizes pay parity for first responders and major investments in transportation and housing after months of hearings and straw votes. Chair Malcolm Graham summarized the package as a “structurally balanced” plan that preserves core city services while adding targeted investments for firefighters, police and mobility projects.
The budget increases property taxes in a package council members said is dedicated primarily to public-safety spending and included: a 10% pay adjustment for CMPD and CFD personnel, expanded take-home vehicles and dash-cam funding for police, investment in Vision Zero projects, and maintenance of a $100 million operating reserve. The city manager and finance staff also described two-year fiscal planning and the capital investment plan for FY2027–31.
Several council members praised the wage and public-safety provisions. Council Member Renee Johnson said the package ‘‘makes historic investments in Charlotte’s future while heavily prioritizing our frontline workers.’’ Council Member Kimberly Owens cited the city’s new $25 minimum as a leadership decision the city can take now.
But some members raised concerns about the scale and timing of the tax and fee increases. Council Member Lorna Mayfield and Ed Driggs said the cumulative effect — a nearly 7% property-tax increase alongside higher solid-waste and water/sewer fees — may strain households already coping with layoffs and higher living costs. Mayfield urged the council and staff to pursue targeted assistance to reduce hardship for long-term homeowners who may face steep tax increases because of rapid property-value gains.
City Manager Marcus Jones and budget staff said the package reflected council priorities developed in workshops and public hearings and emphasized reserve protection and multi-year planning. The council adopted the budget after debate; staff will publish detailed implementation and reporting schedules and provide a performance dashboard to track capital and program delivery.
The budget vote closes the city’s formal adoption process; next procedural steps include ordinance publication and implementation of approved compensation and capital allocations.
