A public hearing for the fiscal year 2027 City of Fayetteville budget will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9. The budget is public record and can be viewed at the Municipal Building prior to the public hearing.

The budget does not include a property tax increase. However, a 2% cost of living increase for employees is included.

During its May 7 special called budget work session, Mayor Donna Hartman said the budget doesn’t have “very much money to gamble with” if any emergencies happen.

City Administrator Kevin Owens noted “cost has inflated over the years.” He said department heads were asked to cut their respective budgets.

See BOMA, Page 4A ^ Before agreeing to give a 2% increase, the board had a lengthy discussion as to the amount of the cost of living increase and how to fit it into the budget.

Alderman Jeff Alder recommended a 1.5% COLA increase, saying revenue from “local sales tax goes up each year,” which would help offset the increase.

Owens said cost on most things has inflated over the years to which Mayor Hartman said the cost of living, in some cases, has risen 3% to 5% and even 6% to 7% in other areas.

Alderman Mike Keenan suggested a 3% COLA increase. “Taking care of the people is more important than roads. If employees leave, new people have to be trained. … We may as well roll up the Charter, close the doors and let the County take over.”

“People are important,” said Alderman Joseph Faulkner. “The City has gone on too long with excessive expenditures.”

Vice Mayor Jeff Bradford first agreed with the 1.5% cost of living raise before agreeing with Keenan on the 2% increase.

Mayor Hartman said she would like to give the employees a raise, “but the taxpayers are expecting certain services.” She said Fayetteville residents pay both city and county property taxes. “We need to spend money the best way possible for the residents,” the mayor said.

“The only way to have quality services, you have to have quality people,” Keenan said. He then suggested a 2% increase rather than Alder’s suggested 1.5%. “I think even a 3% increase is a slap in the face to our employees,” Keenan said.

Vice Mayor Jeff Bradford said when the board started with the proposed budget, the department heads were asked to cut their budgets. They did. “At the same time it’s not fair to ask them to cut and then not give them a cost of living increase,” Bradford said.

Mayor Hartman said people can’t make the salaries working in local government like they can in the public sector. She said the employees have good benefits; they work Monday through Friday each week with a lunch break. “We provide insurance for employees and pay half for a family,” she said. “It’s not like we’re not taking care of them.” Mayor Hartman said “across the board, the top money makers get more than those on the lower pay scale.”

Alderman Dorothy Small said, “I’m at the bottom line. Next year we’re going to go through this same thing. It’s tit for tat and that doesn’t feel good.”

Alderman Faulkner said he, too, is “at the bottom line. Increases will inevitably be a tax increase.”

Bradford and Alder agreed with Keenan on giving a 2% cost of living raise to employees. When determining the difference between a 1.5% increase and a 2% increase, Keenan said the difference “is budget dust.”

Aldermen Faulkner and Alderman Small remained set on the 1.5% cost of living raise. Alderman Tonya Allen was absent from the special called budget work session.

To fund the pay increase, the capital projects fund and the general purpose fund will be decreased.

A public hearing for the Fayetteville City School System is also set for the same meeting. Both public hearings will be held in the auditorium of the municipal building prior to the regular Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s June 9 regular monthly meeting.

The BOMA approved calling for a public hearing for the City of Fayetteville FY27 budget at its May 12 meeting. The motion to approve the public hearing was made by Alderman Jeff Alder and seconded by Alderman Tonya Allen. The motion was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Next, Alderman Dorothy Small made a motion to approve calling for a public hearing for the Fayetteville City Schools FY27 budget for June 9. The motion was seconded by Alderman Mike Keenan and unanimously approved by roll call vote.

Both public hearings will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 prior to the regular monthly meeting. Anyone who wishes to address the board regarding either budget will need to go to the City Administration office, 110 Elk Avenue South, and fill out a form between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday prior to the Tuesday meeting or between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting. The board does not answer questions asked during these public comments.