Budget confusion reigned in City Council this morning as members scuffled over a proposed property tax hike.
Councilman Frank DiCicco, who several weeks ago introduced legislation to hike the property tax by 12 percent, said he would withdraw the legislation, citing a lack of Council support.
"No one wants to step forward and do the hike I think is necessary to maintain basic city services," DiCicco said.
DiCicco's bill would have raised $107 million annually, which would help fill a projected budget gap next year of between $130 million and $150 million.
But Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. stepped in to fill the void, announcing that he would introduce a bill with a 9 percent property tax hike for two years, on behalf of Council's Democratic leaders.
Still, a 9 percent increase will not raise the same amount of revenue, which means the city will have to look to other revenue increases or cuts to make up the gap.