Raleigh survey finds affordable housing the top budget priority as staff outline outreach and next steps

City staff presented results of this year’s budget engagement at a City Council work session, reporting broad public participation and a clear priority: affordable housing.

“Every year we try to involve residents in our budget process,” Lauren Williams of the Department of Budget and Management Services told councilors, and staff recorded 1,984 survey responses and 1,676 written comments. Williams said the city also held five in‑person listening sessions (one per council district), a virtual session and the popular “Budget and Brews” event; those sessions drew 86 attendees in total. Staff used social media, raleighnc.gov, bus ads, radio and print flyers in English and Spanish and partnered with the Raleigh Teen Council and the Boys and Girls Club to expand reach.

When asked to rank priorities for the fiscal‑year 2027 budget, 52% of respondents listed affordable housing as a top priority, Williams said. “Comments tended to focus on housing options for low‑ and moderate‑income households, homelessness prevention and support services and sustainable housing and development initiatives,” she added.

Police services, the 911 call center, drinking water and fire/EMS followed in residents’ rankings. Williams also reported high satisfaction with some city services: 87% of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with drinking water and 86% with parks. Still, she noted that residents showed interest in increased funding for public safety, transportation and employee compensation.

Councilors used the presentation to probe methodology and interpretation. Councilor Branch asked how the category labeled “transportation” was defined; staff clarified that a separate “asphalt/maintenance” category covered sidewalks and pothole repairs, while the transportation label often captured transit and bus‑service comments. Councilor Silver asked whether the educational portion of listening sessions clearly distinguished operating, capital and enterprise funds; Williams said each session included roughly 25 minutes of education on those distinctions before soliciting feedback.

Staff said the engagement results will be incorporated into the FY27 proposed budget. “Resident feedback will be incorporated into the development of the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget,” Williams said, and the manager’s office outlined work‑session dates leading up to a May presentation of the proposed budget.

Councilors praised the response rate but urged staff to keep refining outreach, especially in districts with low turnout, and to present trends over multiple years to help councilors target outreach efforts.

The council did not take formal action at the session; staff said the engagement report and the full survey verbatim comments are posted on raleighnc.gov for further review.