Raleigh adopts budget

The budget, which maintains the property tax rate at 37.35 cents per $100 of value, passed 7-1. Councilman John Odom was the lone opposing vote.

The city also held the line on solid waste, stormwater and privilege license fees. The budget eliminates 24 vacant positions, shares rising city health-care costs with employees and reduces the traditional level of employee compensation increases.

The only fee increase in the budget is $5 extra per year for motor vehicles to support Capital Area Transit. This goes into effect on Oct. 1 and will raise $700,000 over the remaining nine months of the budget year.

City Manager Russell Allen said in a press release that the adopted budget does not reduce public safety funding significantly or require staff layoffs.