CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council passed the city's $3.3 billion budget in its Monday night meeting.
City leaders voted 10-1 to pass the budget. Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston voted against the spending plan after saying it doesn’t go far enough to help city workers amid inflation.
Council members upped raises for hourly city workers from the originally proposed 6% to 11%. The budget also increases minimum pay from $20 an hour to $22 an hour. Salaried city employees are getting a 4% raise.
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"When you figure inflation, the real take home is gonna be no take home for our salaried employees, no increase take home for our salaried employees," Winston asserted.
However, Council Member Dimple Ajmera said the city's new minimum wage, "puts us at the top when we compare to top 20 peer cities."
Many city workers applauded the higher pay raises. Solid Waste Services employee Rory Pegram said he's already seeing a difference in his colleagues since the 11% raise was introduced.
"When you're struggling it affects a lot of their work, their motivation," Pegram shared. "Now, with these increases we have, I'm starting to see a lot of people being energized, willing to work, willing to come to work."
Many city leaders said they were proud the budget makes investments without raising property taxes. It's the fifth straight year the city's budget has done so. However, Winston pointed out that most homeowners will still see an increase in property taxes due to their new home values that were assessed and released this year.
"I would disagree that this is not a tax increase when 80% of people will be paying more taxes," Winston said.
To help homeowners who can’t afford their higher tax bills, the budget allocates $4 million toward the HOMES program.
The city and county program reduces a household's tax bill up to $340 if they are at 80% or below the area median income. For a family of four that means total household income cannot exceed $75,350 a year.
Applicants must share how many people are in their household and have proof of income. According to the county's website, the application opens in July.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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