Wilmington budget passes first reading, includes raises for first responders

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council is one step closer to finalizing their budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. 

Council made its first of two votes on the new budget Tuesday. The budget proposal passed first reading 6-1. 

Some of the things in the budget include $30.5 million for capital projects, $8.6 million in salary increases, including for first responders, and $2.3 million for affordable housing projects. 

The new budget also includes funding for WPD’s Mounted Horse Unit, which was originally cut from the budget. Councilman Luke Waddell pushed for the unit to stay. 

Mayor Bill Saffo says an increase in salaries for first responders was one of the main priorities this year. 

“The city took it as an objective this year to make those adjustments to salary, because we’ve always been concerned about compensation and if you wait too long on those, when it does come time to make those adjustments, they become a lot more significant,” he said. 

The tax rate in the budget is almost revenue neutral at one-tenth of a cent more than the neutral rate of 28.15 cents per every $100 of valuation. 

The only person to vote against the budget was Councilman Luke Waddell. WWAY reached out to Waddell for comment, but we have not heard back as of Thursday evening.