Roswell property owners should get a slight break this year on their city taxes.

The Roswell City Council unanimously approved a $113.9 million budget Monday that includes a 10 percent increase in spending and a modest tax rate reduction.

Council members spent several hours trimming the original budget proposal, submitted in May by Mayor Jere Wood.

The tax rate will drop from $5.657 for each $1,000 of taxable value to $5.455. City officials estimate the reduction will save the owner of a $300,000 home about $24.

The spending plan includes more money for citywide transportation improvements and public safety, plus a 2-percent raise for city employees.

In approving $3.2 million in cuts, the council scaled back a variety of initiatives, including streetlight improvements, facilities maintenance, stormwater system repairs and a retirement plan for city employees.

The city match for employee contributions to the deferred compensation plan will be 1 percent, instead of the 2-percent initially proposed by Wood and the administration.

Councilman Kent Igleheart, who had initially wanted a full rollback in the tax rate, said he was pleased with the end result.

"We all agree we are in tough economic times," he said, as the council debated whether to approve the cuts. "Personally and business-wise, [people] are cutting back. It concerns me that we aren't."

Wood, who had argued for improved benefits for employees to keep Roswell competitive with surrounding communities, also said he was satisfied.

"Most of the salary compensation [plan] was passed," he said.