Fayetteville council adopts budget amid protest from one member over process and community safety funding

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville City Council on Monday adopted its annual budget after a contentious floor discussion about process and priorities.

Councilmember Jonathan McMillan, the lone dissenting vote, praised staff work but said the council’s rush to reach agreement had cut short debate and produced a plan that underfunds the Office of Community Safety. McMillan said the office represents a small portion of the city’s roughly $227 million budget but needs more resources and stability to grow its programs. He also criticized reductions to the recommended employee pay raise, from 4% to 3%, and said the council had not fully debated spending on drones, surveillance tools and ShotSpotter.

“Tonight I am not supporting this budget as presented,” McMillan said, adding that his opposition was rooted in concern for better process and more support for prevention-focused investments.

Mayor Mitch Colvin called the motion to adopt the budget; the clerk recorded the vote as 9–1, with McMillan opposed. Councilmembers generally commended staff for producing options and said difficult trade-offs were required.

City Manager Hewitt had flagged several items in his report, including a late $25,000 grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program to fund police overtime; council agreed to consider adding that grant to the agenda. The council also welcomed summer public fellows and announced retirements and a new budget director.

The council’s approval makes the budget effective for the fiscal year as adopted; council members noted follow-up discussions on specific program funding and preferred next steps during the coming fiscal cycle.