Atlanta City Council approves property tax increase

ATLANTA - The Atlanta City Council approved a 51 percent increase in property taxes Monday, sparing city workers the brunt of Mayor Shirley Franklin&#39;s proposal for unpaid employee leaves. <br> <br> Council approved the $426 million spending plan and made up the difference by increasing the property tax rate for city operations by 51 percent, more than the mayor requested. <br> <br> The budget raises property taxes by $3.5 million dollars, more than the $39 million increase Franklin wanted. The additional tax money will keep city employees from being forced to take 20 days off without pay over the next 10 months. The council trimmed each employee&#39;s forced unpaid leave to five days during the remainder of 2002. <br> <br> The final 10-5 vote on the proposal came after more than two hours of debate in separate meetings. <br> <br> Franklin was glad to have the budget ordeal behind her. <br> <br> ``I don&#39;t feel good about the budget at all,&#39;&#39; Franklin said. ``This has been a tough, tough process. The budget is more manageable with reduction of the furloughs. It falls short of the approach I was taking.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The city operations tax makes up 14 percent of a resident&#39;s property tax bill. Property owners also pay school, county and state taxes.

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