Winston-Salem budget proposal includes more money for police to address staffing shortfall

The proposal for Winston-Salem’s next budget will go before the mayor and city council Tuesday with additional pay included for police.

If approved, the minimum salary for sworn officers would start at $52,500. Those already employed by the department would receive a salary adjustment of about 10 percent.

Like many area departments, including Greensboro, Winston-Salem has struggled to hire and retain officers, with both agencies reporting well over 100 vacancies. City officials said in a release that to help fund Winston-Salem’s police pay proposal, 50 of the department’s vacant positions would be eliminated.

The property tax rate in the proposed budget would be set at 66.1 cents for every $100 of value. That’s an increase of 2.5 cents.

The city’s finance committee will hold a public hearing on the budget Thursday. The council is expected to vote on the proposal on June 20 following another hearing.

It would take effect July 1.