Budget Process

Budget Timeline

City departments work on the budget year round. Key dates and milestone are featured below. The process includes a public hearing, Budget Communities Priority Survey, and City Council work sessions.

Date Range	Phase	Description
December to January	Budget Development	Departments work on aligning their upcoming year budget requests with the Cities needs and priorities. Departments are reviewing their goals and the cities goals to ensure that resources align with community expectations. Departments also work on new programs during this time. These new programs meet a need that is in the community or address an area of service improvement. These requests for new resources go to the Budget and Management Services Department for review.
February to April	Budget Review	Budget and Management Services staff work with the City Manager’s Office and City Council to finalize the recommendations that make up the budget. The public is also able to give input on funding priorities through a budget survey released each March. Budget Work Sessions happen during this time and provide Council the opportunity to provide feedback before the manager’s proposed budget presentation in May. Raleigh Water, Stormwater, and Solid Waste Services make utility rate recommendations during these work sessions and provide updates on their activities over the past year.
May - June	Budget Proposal, Public Hearing & Budget Adoption	At the second Council meeting in May, the city manager provides Council with their proposed and balanced budget. The proposal includes any fee or tax increases, new funding requests, and capital improvement projects. A public hearing on the proposed budget is typically held at the first Council meeting in June. The Council meets each week in June as they deliberate and request additional information on the proposed budget. There is also a Council must adopt a budget by July 1.

Date
Range

Phase

Description

December to January

Budget Development

Departments work on aligning their upcoming year budget requests with the Cities needs and priorities. Departments are reviewing their goals and the cities goals to ensure that resources align with community expectations.

Departments also work on new programs during this time. These new programs meet a need that is in the community or address an area of service improvement. These requests for new resources go to the Budget and Management Services Department for review.

February to April

Budget Review

Budget and Management Services staff work with the City Manager’s Office and City Council to finalize the recommendations that make up the budget. The public is also able to give input on funding priorities through a budget survey released each March.

Budget Work Sessions happen during this time and provide Council the opportunity to provide feedback before the manager’s proposed budget presentation in May. Raleigh Water, Stormwater, and Solid Waste Services make utility rate recommendations during these work sessions and provide updates on their activities over the past year.

May - June

Budget Proposal, Public Hearing &
Budget Adoption

At the second Council meeting in May, the city manager provides Council with their proposed and balanced budget. The proposal includes any fee or tax increases, new funding requests, and capital improvement projects.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is typically held at the first Council meeting in June.

The Council meets each week in June as they deliberate and request additional information on the proposed budget. There is also a Council must adopt a budget by July 1.

How You Can Be Involved in the Process

The City of Raleigh wants to hear from you! The Budget and Management Services Department is hosting several in-person and virtual listening sessions with the community to pilot a new engagement approach for the City. Hearing from residents, businesses, and organizations is critical to creating an equitable City budget. We are asking residents for input on items like transportation, housing, parks, and the environment.

Learn more about the Budget Listening Sessions and register

Current City Budget & Capital Improvement Program

Budget and CIP Documents Archive

Grant Opportunities