City council OK’s budget for now

Wilmington’s next budget is one step closer to being finalized. By a vote of four to two, council approved the proposed budget.

This year the city needs to make up for a nearly six million dollar shortfall. On the table, is a 3.75 cent property tax to offset the deficit. This would increase the property tax to 37 cents per 100 dollars. Some residents say they don’t mind paying more.

“I think that we need to pay what we need to pay to have all of our services. Those services are important services, fire, police. For the county too we need to pay for our libraries,” Wilmington resident, Maggie Parrish said.

Council members Kristi Tomey and Charlie Rivenbark voted against the budget. Some council members took issue with the city’s creation of a code enforcement position to police sweepstakes cafes. Approximately 55 thousand dollars was set aside for that job. A post Charlie Rivenbark felt wasn’t necessary.

Council is expected to make a final vote on the budget at the June 15 meeting.