City tax rate goes up, but not as much
Published 12:00 am Friday, June 10, 2011
Salisbury City Council cut a proposed 5.4-cent increase to the property tax rate this morning and passed a budget for next year that will raise the tax rate instead by 2.35 cents.
The new fiscal year starts July 1.
Meeting in a budget workshop, Council added a $1 garbage collection fee, which will be charged to homes and businesses using rollout containers picked up by the city.
Council also cut a proposed water-sewer rate increase from an average of 2.86 percent to an average of 2.1 percent.
City Manager David Treme said staff worked late into the night Thursday and early this morning to bring the proposed changes to Council members, who had resisted the original “revenue-neutral” budget Treme prepared.
Treme said passing the budget was the best birthday present he could have asked for. Today, Treme turns 64.
He unexpectedly announced his retirement this week, as of Aug. 1.
Read more in Saturday’s Post.