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Winston-Salem Budget Includes Raises, Tax Increase
The Winston-Salem City Council has approved a new budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year that includes a raise for city employees.
Winston-Salem Council members voted 4 to 3 to approve the more than $480 million budget.
City leaders say the new plan will address two needs. One is sustaining and improving public transportation. The second will make salaries for city employees more competitive.
The raises will come at a cost, however. Homeowners will see an increase in the tax rate under the new plan. It amounts to just over 1 cent for every 100 dollars of taxable property.
Greensboro Approves Budget With Raises For Police, Firefighters
Greensboro City Council has passed a budget for the new fiscal year that includes raises for public safety employees.
The News and Record of Greensboro reports the spending plan totals close to $535 million, and includes a 7.5 percent pay raise for police and firefighter starting salaries.
The budget passed on a 6-3 vote, with some dissenters saying all city employees deserve comparable raises.
There will be no change to the current property tax rate of just over 63 cents for every $100 dollars of taxable property.
That's still higher than a revenue-neutral tax rate, meaning the city will collect more money from residents despite keeping the rate level.
Final State Budget On Track For Passage, Cooper's Desk
The North Carolina state budget looks on track to reach Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's desk before the week's end.
The Senate is expected to give its final approval on Wednesday to the two-year spending plan negotiated by General Assembly Republicans, a day after the chamber gave it tentative approval. The House scheduled its two required votes for Wednesday and Thursday.
Budget Deal Ends Adult Prosecution Of North Carolina Teens
North Carolina would no longer be the only state that automatically prosecutes 16- and 17-year-olds as adults under an agreement put in the state budget.
The measure would shift those teens accused of misdemeanors and some felonies to the juvenile court system, where records are confidential instead of adult courts where their records are public. The "raise the age" proposal would take effect in 2019.
Mandatory Driving School For Suspended Drivers OK'd By House
Motorists who've had their North Carolina driver's license suspended for excessive speeding or multiple moving violations would have to take a "driver retraining course" to legally get back on the road under legislation advancing in the General Assembly.
The House voted Monday night for the mandatory 8-hour course conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles or an outside party. Participants could be charged up to $175.
Before sending the measure to the Senate, the House defeated an amendment to make the course optional. Some critics argued the course is too expensive for drivers.
4 Red Wolf Pups Return To Enclosure At A North Carolina Museum
Four rare red wolf pups have returned to their enclosure after getting loose in the North Carolina museum they call home.
The 7-week-old pups slipped out of an enclosure at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham Monday morning. A museum news release says the last one was found around noon Tuesday.
The young wolves appear to have stayed inside the museum's perimeter fence during their time on the loose.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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