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Government Watch: Fayetteville, county, liaison committee updates
- Details
- Tuesday, 04 March 2025
- Written by Jami McLaughlin
City of Fayetteville Update
The Fayetteville City Council met with members of the Cumberland County delegation on Thursday, Feb. 6 for dinner and discussion on state needs.
The Cumberland County NC state delegation includes state Rep. Mike Colvin, Rep. Frances Jackson, Rep. Charles Smith, Rep. Diane Wheatley, Sen. Val Applewhite and Sen. Tom McInnis. Also present were Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Kirk deViere, who serves as chair, and Commissioner Henry Tyson.
$29.5 million in state funding was requested for the 2025 with prioritized requests including:
• $4 million for mental health co-response, homeless support, and community-based violence interruption programs within the Office of Community Safety;
• $2 million for Affordable and Workforce Housing Initiatives;
• $500,000 for a transportation connectivity study (I-685, rail and surface transportation)
• $5 million to expand sewer and water infrastructure;
• $10 million for pedestrian and safety projects;
• $1 million for workforce development initiatives including STEM and NextGen workforce growth opportunities;
• $3 million for planning and feasibility of a regional public safety training center;
• $2 million for Cape Fear River Park Trail Extension Phase II;
• $2 million for Solid Waste & Transit facility modernization and improvements.
Discussions also included an equitable tax distribution, a direct flight to DC from the Fayetteville Regional Airport, public safety personnel recruitment and retention, a Rail to Raleigh initiative and the need for affordable and workforce housing.
Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen said that the City of Fayetteville was also exploring other flight paths to add to the schedule at Fayetteville Regional Airport.
McInnis said that there needs to be less regulation in permitting in order to build housing.
At their Feb. 10 meeting, the City Council approved an intergovernmental service agreement with Fort Bragg for solid waste. Fayetteville will now manage solid waste services on post.
They also approved $1.9 million to pay a local contractor M&E Contracting Inc. to finish the Mazarick Park Tennis Center on Filter Plant Road.
Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners adopted a Federal Legislative Agenda at their Feb. 13 meeting. These are county priorities to be advocated for on a federal level and include:
• Secure funding for safe, regulated drinking water in contaminated areas;
• Secure funding and services for individuals with mental health and substance abuse challenges;
• Seek funding for infrastructure improvements, PFAS removal, and organic waste processing;
• Prioritize funding for specialized training, detention facility improvements, and modern technology for the Sheriff’s Office;
• Secure funding to maintain services and expand breastfeeding programs;
• Support legislation for stronger child welfare services and improve funding for key programs;
• Strengthen infrastructure for senior services and support aging-related federal initiatives;
• Advocate for USDA payment reforms;
• Support childcare tax credits and provider assistance;
• Support the I-685/I-295 Cumberland County connection project;
• Secure additional funding for Veterans Services Offices;
• Funding to ensure compliance with DOJ’s mandate for ADA-accessible content by April 2026 deadline.
At their Feb. 17 meeting, the board adopted a resolution supporting $93.5 million in funding requests on a state level after a meeting with the Cumberland County state legislative delegation on Feb. 10. The priorities included:
• $5 million for public water infrastructure for the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District water expansion project and $50 million for public water and sewer county-wide infrastructure;
• $30 million, including $15 million of direct State appropriations for infrastructure needs and $15 million for a new state-of-the-art school;
• $4 million to expand comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment services for youth;
• $2 million for Regional Aquatic Center preconstruction needs;
• $2 million for a Mobile Incident Command Unit for Emergency Services and $500,000 for Digital Dispatch Equipment for Cumberland County’s Fire Chiefs Association;
Joint City of Fayetteville — Cumberland County Liaison Committee
Members of the Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Board of Commissioners met on Feb. 17 to discuss public safety with presentations from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs Association, the City of Fayetteville Fire Department and the City of Fayetteville Police Department.
The city and county meet jointly to discuss ways they can further collaborate and communicate effectively. Committee members include Board of Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones, Committee Chair; Chairman Kirk deViere and Commissioner Pavan Patel; Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen, Committee Co-Chair; Mayor Mitch Colvin; and Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin.
The next meeting will be held on March 17 in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.
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 in shaping policies, driving economic success, and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com.
(Photo courtesy of Cumberland County NC Government Facebook Page)
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