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Tentative budget agreement for Charlotte removes property tax increase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A tentative agreement on Charlotte’s budget could save taxpayers money and improve safety.

City council held a straw poll vote Wednesday.

The council voted on funding for Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and tentatively agreed to fund 63 new officers and 25 support personnel.

CMPD Chief Kerr Putney has been pushing for more officers after a spike in Charlotte crime last year.

The Charlotte Fire Department would also get a new truck and 18 firefighters to cover the Northlake Mall area.

City council tentatively agreed to pay for those safety improvements without raising property taxes. Commissioners voted to eliminate the .43 cent property tax increase.

However, they did include an $8 increase in trash fees for homeowners and owners of apartment units, which would work out to 67 cents more a month.

This is not yet a done deal. The final vote on the budget will be in June.

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