Charlotte has a new $2.6 billion budget that raises police pay and includes a one cent property tax increase. That amounts to an extra $25 a year for a $250,000 home.
Before the vote last night, city councilor Gregg Phipps called it a modest increase. He believes the budget "helps police, which helps public safety and promote our affordable housing strategies and other CIP projects."
The budget gives most Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers raises of between 7 and 9.5 percent. Officers with less experience will get bigger raises. The council also agreed to ask voters to increase the city’s bond for affordable housing to $50 million. The council’s nine Democrats voted for the spending plan and its two Republicans voted against it.
Republican Ed Driggs says he supports many things in the budget but doesn’t think a tax increase is necessary.
“In spite of my appreciation of the good things in there, I’m afraid I will not be able to support it," Driggs said.
The new budget takes effect July 1.
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