POP QUIZ

Welcome to this week’s YES! Weekly Pop Quiz where we ask elected officials about their jobs. This week’s questions are directed to members of the Winston-Salem City Council regarding the proposed 2011- 2012 budget. The rules are simple: No research, no callbacks.

Questions

1. What is the current property tax rate in the city of Winston-Salem? Does the proposed 2011-2012 budget raise property taxes? 2. Seventy-three percent of the capital projects budget is earmarked for what city infrastructure projects? 3. True or false: The 2011-2012 budget does not include a merit-based employee pay increase.

James Taylor, Southeast Ward 1. 47.5 cents per $100 valuation [ ]; no [ ].

2. Economic development [X]. 3. False. [ ]

Mayor Allen Joines 1. 47.5 cents per $100 valuation [ ]; no, it keeps it at current rate [ ]. 2. Utilities, environmental health [ ]. 3. False [ ].

Dan Besse, Southwest Ward 1. 49.5 cents per $100 valuation [X]; no [ ].

2. Water and sewer [ ]. 3. False [ ].

Correct Answers

1. 47.5 cents per $100 of assessed value; no.

2. Water and sewer projects

3. False. The budget proposal includes a merit-based pay increase of up to 1.5 percent with a minimum increase of $500 per qualified employee.