WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
The city of Winston-Salem has released its proposed budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The spending plan totals more than $605 million. It includes pay increases for city employees, firefighters and law enforcement, according to a news release from the city.
The city said this year's proposed budget adds no new positions to the city's total personnel count. The proposal does eliminate 50 vacant police officer positions to help fund the increase in the police pay plan, which makes $52,500 the minimum salary for a police officer.
In his budget message, City Manager Lee Garrity cited keeping up with inflation both with respect to the costs of labor and doing business as the toughest challenge in preparing this year's budget.
"While inflation seems to be cooling based on the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics," Garrity said in a statement. "The rate still remains three times higher than pre-pandemic inflation rates."
All current sworn law enforcement staff would receive a minimum salary adjustment of 10.3 percent. The city's minimum wage would be raised to $15.45 an hour, effective on Jan. 1, 2024. All city employees would be eligible for a merit raise of up to 6.5 percent and a salary supplement of up to $2,000 per employee, depending on salary.
The budget proposal would also raise property taxes. The property tax rate would be set at 66.1 cents for every $100 of value, an increase of 2.5 cents.
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