Some say an increase would be a way to provide better salaries for city employees. In Fayetteville, many campaign issues change from election to election. One year, annexation might be the hot topic. Next time, it might be crime. But there's one constant.
Taxes are always on voters' minds.
There's very little tolerance for any increase. District 7 candidate Frank Brownell, who said he thinks taxes are too high, has said he could stomach up to a 3-cent tax hike if he knew it would go for police pay raises. District 5 candidate Lois Kirby, who is married to a police officer, agrees. You put the most important things on top and work from there. When you run out of money, you run out of money.