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Raleigh proposal raises taxes, increases pay for police, firefighters

The City of Raleigh may soon increase property taxes, as well as water, sewer and stormwater bills. According to the newly-proposed budget, some of the money would help increase pay for the city's police and firefighters, who have been challenged by staff shortages.

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By
Matt Talhelm
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — The City of Raleigh may soon increase property taxes, as well as water, sewer and stormwater bills. According to the newly-proposed budget, some of the money would help increase pay for the city's police and firefighters, who have been challenged by staff shortages.

Marchel Adams-David, Raleigh's city manager, presented the budget proposal at a city council meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Homeowners in the city would see a 2-cent property tax rate increase, which amounts to about $63 more a year for the average home valued at around $317,000. The property tax rate increase will help fill a $19 million budget gap.

Adams-David's proposed budget focuses on improving city operations and employee pay.

"I firmly believe that the proposed budget supports both the community and its diverse people," said Adams-David.

Public safety is a priority in the proposed budget. Police and firefighters protested during a City Council meeting last month, demanding higher pay as their departments deal with staffing shortages. The proposal shows minimum pay for police and fire will increase to 6% above Wake County's average for those positions. They'll also get merit raises between 3 and 5%, with newer officers and firefighters getting the bigger increase.

However, not everyone is happy with the increase. Some feel it's too little; others feel it's too much.

Andrew Davis, the president of the Raleigh Professional Firefighters Association said, "We are not happy with it. We have asked for equal raises for all tenure of employees."

Several supporters of the Refund Raleigh group called on council to reduce funding for police.

"We do not need to spend more of our tax money on police," said Nique Williams, a supporter for Refund Raleigh, who spoke during the public comment section.

All city employees will continue receiving a 2% cost of living increase for the next year.

The budget also puts money toward affordable housing.

"We are charged with making sure that not only are the people who have the opportunity to live work and play in our great city also be able to afford to continue to stay in our great city," said Adams-David.

City council is also moving forward with plans to put a $275 million bond referendum on the November ballot to pay for park improvements.

That would add a 4-cent tax rate increase if approved by voters.

A public hearing for the budget is set for June 7.

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