The Baltimore City Council approved Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's $2.49 billion operating budget Monday.
The spending plan for the next fiscal year is about $100 million higher than the current budget and contains no major cuts to services and no tax or fee increases.
It includes a property tax rate of $2.13 per $100 of assessed value. That’s still higher than surrounding jurisdictions, but down 14 cents over the last three years. It’s part of the mayor’s plan to cut the rate by 20 cents by the year 2020.
Several council members called it the “lightest” budget in years.
Councilwoman Helen Holton, who leads the budget committee, said there “may have been areas where we didn’t necessarily agree,” but there were no cuts “that gave heartburn to anyone.”
Holton, who represents parts of Southwest and Northwest Baltimore, said her committee does not know what the budget will hold next year, "but we will take the calm of this year and hope for the best for next year."
The budget is the second in the mayor’s 10-year plan to cut a $750 million structural deficit.
It provides $208 million for city schools $38 million for renovating old buildings. Funding remains the same for recreation centers and public swimming pools.
The budget also includes money for several crime-fighting initiatives including Operation Ceasefire, extended curfew centers and night basketball programs. The Vacants to Value program would get $10 million to demolish whole blocks of vacant houses.
Rawlings-Blake said the ten-year financial plan has already generated $395 million in savings through fiscal year 2022.
"We will continue to face big challenges and tough choices in the years ahead, but we should be proud of what we have done together," she said.
The council also approved an $897 million proposed capital budget; most of it going towards water and sewer infrastructure.
The 2015 fiscal year begins July 1.