More than 40 people weighed in on the city manager's $2.6 billion budget proposal Monday night. The recommendation includes a one penny tax hike to cover a six-and-a-half percent pay raise for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers and tripling the amount for the Housing Trust Fund to $50 million.
There's a small pay bump for the Charlotte Fire Department but several firefighters said it’s not enough.
"Helping the great citizens of this great city is fulfilling, but having to work one, two or even three side jobs to provide for our family is not," said Michael Feneis, a Charlotte firefighter. "We're not asking to be the highest paid fire department in the country, we're asking for fair pay and benefits."