North Raleigh Today

At yesterday’s City Council work session, the Budget Department shared the outcome of their recent engagement effort and the 2025 Fiscal Year outlook.

Residents participated in a first-of-its-kind participatory budgeting pilot for the City of Raleigh, where almost 3,000 people voted on 19 projects to decide how to allocate $1,000,000, or $200,000 in each district. As one resident expressed, "It’s great to see the community coming together to have a say in how our city's budget is spent."

The engagement efforts included 14 in-person and virtual listening sessions, with topics ranging from affordable housing to infrastructure. The top priority across all districts was micro gaps for sidewalks to and from parks and greenways, with one resident stating, "Sidewalks are crucial for our community's safety and accessibility."

The City made a concerted effort to reach a broad audience with their communications plan, targeting zip codes outside the downtown core, Spanish speakers, and households with lower incomes. As another resident mentioned, "It's important for all voices to be heard, especially those who are often underrepresented in these discussions."

Looking ahead, the City will provide a full engagement report within the next week. Additionally, the Budget Department shared the FY25 revenue outlook, which includes the impact of new property valuations issued by Wake County. The City presented an example illustrating how municipal taxes cover various expenses for the average resident.

As the budgeting process progresses, the Budget Department will return before Council for work sessions in March and April, with the City Manager set to present the proposed budget on May 21. Residents are encouraged to stay engaged in the process and continue to voice their priorities for the community's future.