CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte’s City Manager Marcus Jones presented his recommendations for the city’s $2.6 billion budget which includes more funding for public safety, affordable housing and a proposed tax increase.

Recommendations include:

• 6.5 percent pay raise for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers
• $50 million for Housing Trust Fund
• One penny tax rate increase or nearly $10/year
• Increased service fees for storm water, water, and garage
• Salary increases and transit benefits for city employees

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 9, asked for a 15 percent raise for all CMPD officers along with better benefits for retirees earlier this year. In this budget proposal, there’s an addition $7.3 million for new recruitment benefits, salary increases and several new staff positions. This funding includes a 6.5 percent pay raise for all CMPD officers, and reduces the number of steps to reach top salary from 13 to 12. The starting salary for a new recruit would increase to $46,352 compared to the current rate which is $43,492. Jones said candidates with an associates and/or bachelor’s degree will start at $51,000. This would give CMPD the highest starting salary for a large police department in the state.

The proposal also includes funding for officers who live within city limits, to take home their patrol cars. Jones said they’ll start with 75 vehicles but it’ll take about five to six years to phase in every officer.

The city will contribute about $1,000/year for retired sworn officers and firefighters.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Marcus Jones wants to increase the Housing Trust Fund to $50 million, which has been $15 million over the past few bond cycles. Jones said members of the business and philanthropic communities will meet later this month to determine how much money they could contribute to create more affordable housing. In 2016, city council pledged to create 5,000 workforce/affordable housing units within three years and so far, they’ve completed about 75 percent of their goal.

TAX RATE

If approved, this would be the first tax property increase since 2013. Marcus Jones said the one penny tax hike would cost the average household about $10/year. He said it would generate about $9.8 million which would help cover salary increase for police officers and projects in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

SERVICE FEES

Service fees for storm water, garbage and water are going up and it could cost the average household an addition $40 next year. The biggest increase will be for Charlotte water which is going up $1.89/month which is about $22.68/year. Storm water fees could increase by $0.75/month. City staff is also recommending a $5 million two-year pilot program to address some of the lowest priority storm water projects.

BENEFITS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES

City employees both salary and hourly would receive a three percent raise. Additionally, all city employees would be eligible for a major transit discount. Jones said they'll offer a yearly CATS pass for only $33 – normally it costs about $1,400.

There will be a public hearing for these proposed budget recommendations on Monday, May 14. City council is expected to adopt the budget in June.