Public Hearing Slated For Winston-Salem's Proposed Budget

Winston-Salem City Council members are reviewing a proposed budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. A public hearing will take place Thursday during a Finance Committee meeting.

The plan calls for raising the minimum wage for city workers by 50 cents, making it $13 an hour. It also includes another round of supplements for sworn police officers and firefighters. They would see a 2 percent increase starting in January.

The city began phasing in pay bumps a few years ago after a study found that some salaries were below market.

“With the additional supplemental pay, we've seen really good results,” says Patrice Toney, Winston-Salem's budget and evaluation director. “And so, we don't have the turnover like we used to although we still have retirements and attrition. But for the most part that has slowed down.”

Toney says the nearly $500 million budget will maintain services without increasing the tax rate for operations. But that still won't stop an increase to property taxes.

In order to pay for the bond projects voters approved last year, the rate would increase 4 cents for every $100 of value. For example, a home that's valued at $150,000 would see an increase of around $60 a year.

Winston-Salem City Council is expected to vote on the budget during its June 17 meeting. A public hearing on the matter will also take place during that time.

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