INC NEWS - Durham tax increase backed

[Newman Aguiar]

Durham tax increase backed
A group of leaders wants more money for fighting crime

By MARGIE FISHMAN, Staff Writer


DURHAM -- A well-heeled group of business and community leaders and two City
Council members say the city needs to seriously consider raising taxes to
combat crime.

In his preliminary budget presented Monday, City Manager Patrick Baker did
not recommend raising property taxes but did suggest that the council
consider increasing the tax rate by a penny to fund nine additional police
officers, $100,000 in police overtime and 16 police vehicles, among other
items.

In response, a citizens committee calling themselves Durham Roundtable's
Committee on Crime will launch an effort to mobilize support for the tax
increase, said Barker French, a committee member who owns a local investment
firm.

"This is where the political realities hit the streets," French said
Tuesday. "[Baker] is doing what he's being asked to by the council that
employs him."

Crime remains a top local issue, even though the crime rate in Durham has
dropped in the past decade. Outsiders continue to perceive the Bull City as
a dangerous place, according to surveys by the Durham Convention & Visitors
Bureau, and some local residents have asked for money for a "hot spot"
surveillance system that would allow them to monitor criminal activity on
the streets from their home computers.

Counting among its members Jim Goodmon of Capitol Broadcasting, Hank
Scherich of Measurement Inc. and two former Bull City mayors, the committee
will join forces with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Downtown
Durham Inc. and the visitors bureau in a coordinated e-mail campaign
directed at council members, French said. The committee also plans to take
out newspaper ads.

Under the proposed $295.8 million budget, the owner of a home assessed at
$150,000 would continue to pay $874.50 in property taxes but would see an
$11-a-year increase in water and sewer rates. That homeowner's property tax
bill would increase by $15 a year if the council approves a one penny
increase on the property tax rate to fund public safety. Baker also
suggested raising taxes to expand bus routes and help revitalize downtown
and inner-city neighborhoods. The final budget is scheduled for a vote June
20.

Already, council members Diane Catotti and Eugene Brown say they're leaning
toward supporting a tax increase to help the police department. Council
member Howard Clement said he was open to the possibility while Mayor Bill
Bell said Baker's budget was a good start and declined further comment.
Previously, Bell said he supported the committee's efforts, though he could
not endorse a tax increase.

More funding for police officers and equipment is sorely needed, Brown said.
He disagreed, however, with the police department's request for 50 new
patrol cars, calling it excessive. Baker recommended funding 34 cars next
year, and he noted that the department's vacancy rate is 2 percent, down
from last year.

Police officials declined requests for phone interviews late Tuesday.

The total police department budget next year is about $38.6 million. That
represents 62 percent of what the city dedicates to public protection, which
includes the fire department, 911 and emergency management.

On Monday, city officials touted a $1.6 million increase in the budget for
public protection next year. The budget for the police department, however,
is expected to grow by less than 1 percent, compared to a 9.6 percent
increase in the current fiscal year.

Acting Budget Director Elizabeth Partin said the department got a big
infusion of money from its new pay plan when the city approved the budget
last year, so it didn't need as much of an increase this year.

"We certainly try to give them as much as we can for what they need," she
said, adding that the police department generally has fewer unfunded items
than other departments. The police department lists $1.1 million in unfunded
or underfunded items next year, including money for recruiting, computer
upgrades and public relations supplies.



Staff writer Margie Fishman can be reached at 956-2405 or
mfishman at newsobserver.com. <mailto:mfishman at newsobserver.com> 

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