Washington has a budget for fiscal year 2017-2018 — after Mayor Mac Hodges broke a 2-2 tied vote with his vote for the budget Monday night.

Joining the mayor in voting for the nearly $75 million budget were council members Richard Brooks and Larry Beeman. Council members Doug Mercer and William Pitt voted against the budget. Councilwoman Virginia Finnerty did not attend the meeting because of medical reasons, according to the mayor.

The budget, which takes effect July 1, does not raise the property-tax rate. City Manager Bobby Roberson’s proposed budget, given to the council April 1, called for increasing the tax rate 3 cents per $100 valuation, which would have increased the tax on a $100,000 home from $520 a year to $550 a year. The budget does not increase fees for water, sewer, stormwater and electric services.

Mercer and Pitt express reservations with this year’s budget process, contending the council rushed through it instead of taking time for a thorough review of the proposed budget.

“Mr. Mayor, in concern that the budget that has been presented has shifted the burden of balancing the budget from the property holder to the rate holder. … We are doing this constantly. We are transferring excessive amounts from the electric fund in a direct transfer. I do not believe this is a good budget, and I will vote against it,” Mercer said.

Pitt said, “I have to concur with Councilman Mercer. I’ve been here eight years and was bored. This is the first year we were in a rush to get through it. Now, I realize that line item by line item is boring and slow, but that’s how we’ve done it. I think the manager, the department heads made this budget lean. They’ve made it a workable budget. It just seems a little bit disconcerting to go to a budget and pass it in 35 minutes, go through it in 35 minutes. I can’t stand here in good standing and say I’m going to vote for the budget the way it is. I think there needs to be some more vetting. … We don’t need to move hastily with the budget. It is the most important thing we do all year-round.”

After more discussion on the budget, including proposed changes to the spending plan, Beeman made a motion to adopt the budget with one change. The modification reduced the allocation to the Highway 17 Association from $7,500 to $6,750. The association works to have U.S. 17 become four lanes throughout North Carolina — several sections of the highway are two lanes — and other transportation issues in eastern North Carolina.