The Blacksburg Town Council unanimously approved Tuesday night a $72 million budget for 2008-09 that includes a 1 percent increase in the town meals tax to fund four new police officers, one emergency services dispatcher and a dedicated downtown cleaning crew.

Utility bills will also increase by just under $5 per month. Town real estate taxes will remain at 22 cents per $100 in value.

Representatives from local restaurants asked the council to reconsider the meals tax increase, saying it could hurt their businesses.

Mayor Ron Rordam pointed out that both residents and visitors will pay this tax, and that the council raised real estate taxes three years ago to meet growing costs.

Some council members have also called on Virginia Tech to collect local meals taxes from some on-campus restaurants. Tech officials have to date been reluctant to do so.