City and county leaders have officially established a framework to consolidate their separate emergency operations into a unified 911 dispatch center following a joint resolution approved on July 8. The landmark agreement ends years of local negotiation and designates Cumberland County as the initial administrative lead for the merged system. This local compromise was accelerated by legislative pressure from the North Carolina General Assembly, which had introduced a bill threatening a mandated, county-led consolidation if the two governments failed to produce their own roadmap.

Under the newly approved structure, the unified Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) will be managed by a Joint Governance Board consisting of representatives from both the city and the county, including local sheriffs, police chiefs and fire chiefs to ensure balanced oversight and public accountability. An operations committee composed of public safety professionals will guide the daily functions and technical aspects of the integration. Both governments now have a 60-day window from the resolution date to finalize the comprehensive interlocal agreement that will dictate the final transition timeline and daily long-term operations. An independent third-party implementer will guide the transition to a joint center, according to officials.

 

City of Fayetteville

The council adopted a $327.3 million operating budget and a $117 million Capital Improvement Plan. Notably, this was achieved without any property tax increase, holding the rate at $0.4495 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Fayetteville also expanded its Can-Do Economic Development Programs to offer local businesses and property owners flexible financial tools focusing on corridor revitalization. The initiative features three options: the CORE grant for exterior improvements, the BOOST loan for property acquisition and renovation and the EDGE grant for larger redevelopment projects. 

Applications for these funding resources are reviewed four times a year. Eligible business owners can apply directly through the official City of Fayetteville Can-Do Programs portal during the following submission windows: 

• July 1–30

• October 1–30

• January 1–30

• May 1–30

Business owners interested in applying or learning more about available economic development resources can visit www.FayettevilleNC.gov/CanDoPrograms for program details, eligibility requirements and application information. 

 

Cumberland County

The commissioners have been active leading into the latter half of the year with key events and ongoing discussions, including: 

• In June, the Board enacted a six-month temporary moratorium to stall the construction of new data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations in unincorporated areas so officials can adequately craft new regulatory ordinances. 

• Board members unanimously adopted the $666.45 million budget (with a $408.26 million general fund). The budget maintains the current property tax rate of $0.499 per $100 of assessed valuation while still investing heavily in infrastructure, schools and emergency services. 

Commissioners are also scheduled to vote on a $121,500 economic development incentive package to help secure an international drone manufacturer's first United States production facility in the county, which would bring 162 jobs. The Fayetteville City Council approved a $121,500 grant for the facility, known as Project Odesa, in June. The project would be located at 223 Dedication Drive, off Black and Decker Road, in Fayetteville. 

 

In other news

Filing for the Cumberland County Board of Education is open until Aug. 7 at noon. There are three at-large seats open for the general election on Nov. 3. 

While a separate municipal board decision, Cumberland County Commissioner Henry Tyson, serving as the ABC Commission liaison, noted the Town of Stedman's July charter amendment to end a 1913 alcohol ban will be supported by the county's economic development tools.

 

North Carolina House and Senate

In July 2026, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a $34 billion state budget, which Governor Josh Stein signed into law. Lawmakers are currently in recess but will reconvene in Raleigh on July 27 to tackle pending policy bills and potential veto overrides.

The bipartisan Senate Bill 257 targets infrastructure and public sector relief, securing investments for Medicaid, Hurricane Helene recovery and Propel NC community college workforce programs. Public school teachers will receive their largest starting pay increase in nearly 50 years, while tens of thousands of state employees and law enforcement officers will see salary hikes and bonuses reflected retroactively in their upcoming paychecks. Also, the enacted legislation and budget provisions prohibit state agencies, K-12 public schools and community colleges from operating DEI offices and spending public funds on divisive initiatives.

And a fun state fact: in the North Carolina budget, the Moravian cookie was just named North Carolina’s official cookie! This crispy treat can be bought at the Junior League of Fayetteville’s Holly Day Fair the first weekend in November at the Crown!

 

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber

Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings, as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.