NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro Council members voted to approve a substitute budget that still includes a 53-cent property tax increase.
The council voted 32-8 to approve Councilmember Sean McGuire's substitute budget plan after three hours of debate on Tuesday night.
The new version mostly mirrors the Mayor Karl Dean's spending plan, but includes $8.6 million in cuts that McGuire wants to put into savings.
The budget still included Mayor Dean's proposed 53-cent property tax increase. The "substitute budget" put four cents from the property tax increase into a debt reserve, and makes financial cuts to multiple programs proposed in the mayor's budget.
The new budget gives Metro employees a 4-percent raise and maintains staffing levels for both the police and fire departments.
Mayor Dean released this statement in regards to the budget following the vote:
"The budget approved by the Metro Council supports our priorities of schools and public safety and looks to Nashville's future by strengthening the city's debt service reserves. I appreciate the Council's thoughtful input and support to make the necessary investments to keep our city moving forward."
