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Raleigh Approves Tax-Holding Budget for '08, but Some Fees Will Rise

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RALEIGH, N.C. — The City Council on Monday voted 4-3 to approve a 2008 budget that holds the line on property taxes but raises several other charges.

The budget, which totals more than $556 million and is up 8.3 percent from the 2007 budget, takes effect July 1.

The budget anticipates that revenue from property taxes will rise 5 percent and that sales tax income will go up 6.4 percent, all due to growth and rising values. The property tax rate will remain at 43.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The solid waste fee will rise by $2, and water and sewer rates will go up 9 percent.

The budget total includes an annual operating budget of just over $343 million, with the remainder for capital projects.

Among staff increases in the budget are 10 new telephone operators for the Emergency Communications Center, 20 civilian and sworn positions in the Police Department and 12 Parks and Recreation Department positions.

Mayor Charles Meeker and Council Members Jessie Taliaferro, James West and Joyce Kekas voted for the budget. Voting against it were members Philip Isley, Thomas Crowder and Tommy Craven. Council Member Russ Stephenson was absent.

 

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