Editorial: Smart increase

In the recently proposed budget, Interim Durham City Manager Greg Bethea announced plans to raise tax collections by almost 5 percent in order to pay off bond debt, perform basic maintenance of city buildings and hire 42 additional firefighters. These targets are both appropriate and necessary.

Bethea has made clear that Durham needs the additional funds in order to pay off voter-approved bonds from 1990 and 1996 and also to maintain city facilities like City Hall and the Armory. Durham residents should be willing to pay for these basic obligations.

In addition, the proposed increases would ensure that the Durham Fire Department meets new national standards by providing revenue to hire new fighters. These new firefighters will help reduce response time--something that could save lives and reduce property damage. Collecting more taxes from residents is a small consequence for this significant benefit.

But the city should beware of unnecessary spending, particularly in the case of the parking deck for the American Tobacco project. Part of the tax increase would fund the deck, despite the fact that American Tobacco has shown little progress.

Although city support is important for the success of the project, city officials should be weary of placing greater burden on taxpayers if it shows little sign of success in the future.

Aside from this caveat, the proposed tax increase pays for necessary services that benefit all Durham residents and should be endorsed by Durham officials.