The special council meeting Thursday evening, devoted exclusively to passing the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, ended one of the smoothest budget-making seasons in recent history.

Most of the big decisions -- staff cuts in the fire and police departments -- had been made by city officials before giving the budget to city council.

However, one councilman made a last-ditch effort Thursday to end the long-standing policy of handing out "free" trash bags to city residents. Councilman Marc Weintraub introduced a budget amendment to reduce the city's spending on the trash bags from $425,000 to $75,000. The $350,000 difference would then be added to the city's municipal stabilization fund, according to the amendment. Councilman Chris Dodrill seconded the amendment. Weintraub said he's raised the issue in the past because he believes the trash bag spending is a waste of city money and resources.

"Opponents say if we don't hand out the trash bags, then trash would flow out into the streets," he said. "But I know our neighbors are better than that."

The amendment was struck down with only Councilmen Doddrill, Courtney Persinger and Weintraub voting in favor. Councilman James Ealy was absent.

Seven council members spoke against the measure, citing the trash bags' benefits or the need to respect the committee process.

Councilman Jack E. Harrison said the idea should have been brought up during committee sessions but could be raised at a later time.

Weintraub said he raised the idea during committee meetings but it was not taken seriously. He plans to raise the issue again in future meetings.

Although the new budget once again sets a record for revenues and spending -- it's up $2.2 million or 2.7 percent from the budget council approved one year ago, also a record -- it is also the third straight bare-bones budget.

City workers will go without across-the-board pay raises for the third consecutive year, and there are 24 fewer job positions than last year.

Nearly all extra revenue, plus an emergency $1.5 million withdrawal from a "rainy day" fund, will go toward the city's underfunded police and fire pension funds. Payments into those pension plans will cost $9.55 million next year. The pension payments consume more than 11 percent of the total budget.

City finance officials had been counting on a large increase in property tax revenues to cover the rising pension costs, until they learned their tax projections were based on faulty information. County tax collectors had been sending too much property tax to the city this year because of a clerical error in the North Charleston tax district.

Charleston will have to pay back an estimated $1.6 million in overpayments. County tax clerks have not yet verified the proper figures after discovering the error March 12.

In addition to the repayment, city finance people lowered their property tax revenue projection for 2012-13 by $1.5 million. To fill the hole in the budget, they transferred $1.5 million from the city's $4.5 million stabilization fund.

Among other highlights of the new budget:

* The city will set aside $500,000 to match possible grants for at least three projects, City Manager David Molgaard has said. The money could be used for the Civic Center expansion, a proposed extension of the Kanawha River walkway up Elk River to the Civic Center, or for a makeover of Slack Plaza.

* Another $700,000 will be reserved for a second phase of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stabilization work along the Kanawha River. In 2010, a contractor laid new riprap on the West Side riverbank from Magic Island to Patrick Street. The second phase would run from the 35th Street bridge to the Capitol or beyond.

* The city's contribution to the Charleston Area Alliance will rise to $100,000, restoring  $25,000 the council cut last year.

* Contributions to the county Health Department remain at $100,000, half the pre-2012 level.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5102.

Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.