The Wilmington City Council adopted the city’s 2010-11 budget at their meeting on June 15. The new budget includes a 3.75-cent tax increase that helps offset a $5.7 million of budget shortfall. The tax increase on a home valued at $185,000 -- the median home price in Wilmington -- will cost $5.77 a month. This increase is necessary to maintain core services without laying off any employees.
A few highlights:
- 18 positions eliminated, bringing the total to more than 50 positions cut over the last two years.
- No staff layoffs or furloughs; no pay increases
- Core services remain, but very limited maintenance/capital improvements projects
Did you know the City is doing more with less money and fewer people?
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Like our residents, the city is struggling with rising costs such as gas and electricity. For example, in 1999 a gallon of gasoline cost $.97 per gallon compared to $2.73 today.
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Myth vs. Reality
Myth
The city keeps raising my property taxes.
Reality
Since 1999, the city has only raised property taxes once. Wilmington has the second lowest tax rate of all large cities in North Carolina.
Myth
City government keeps getting bigger.
Reality
The city has doubled in size from 26 square miles to 52 square miles in the 90s as a result of annexations, and the population increased by 41%. However, the number of city staff per capita (per every 1,000 residents) has actually decreased:
1997-98
- Population: 64,513
- Staff: 733
- 11 employees for every 1,000 citizens
2009-10
- Population: 100,000
- Staff: 1,000
- 10 employees for every 1,000 citizens
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Budget 101: Learn some basics about the city's budget.
Visit the 2010-11 budget page.