Public safety gets biggest bump; city to add 12 firefighters, 5 police officers

The first read of the Fayetteville 2019 General Fund budget totaling $15.482 million was held at the June 21 meeting of the Fayetteville City Council. Effective Aug. 1, the budget will be adopted on July 19.

Above, members of the Fayetteville City Council at the June 21 meeting included, from left, council members Harlan Shirley, Kathaleen Brewer and Paul Oddo, Mayor Ed Johnson and council members Rich Hoffman and Scott Stacy. Photo/Ben Nelms.

The 2019 budget represents a $1.94 million increase over the previous year, with revenues increasing by that amount. Significant areas of increase include $1.474 million in sales and property taxes and $593,000 in intergovernmental sources such as the firefighter SAFER grant.

In terms of expenditures, public safety accounts for the largest increase, totaling $1.46 million, followed by general government at $166,052.

The increase in expenditures for public safety came with the addition of 12 firefighters through the SAFER program and benefits totaling approximately $750,000, the addition of five new police officers and benefits at approximately $350,000.

Public safety accounts for the largest percentage of expenditures, with police at 34 percent and fire at 28 percent.

The council will hear the second read and adopt the budget on July 19.