KNIGHTDALE —Town Council approved its 2009 budget Monday and raised taxes 2 cents to fund a capital reserve account that will be used for capital improvement projects.

The 2009 budget sets aside $210,000 that can be used for future projects the council approves. The plan is for 2-cents of each person’s tax revenue to be set aside in the account each year.

The council voted 3-2 to approve the budget and the capital reserve budget ordinance. Councilmen Jeff Eddins and James Roberson opposed.

The budget does not include the Mingo Creek Fire Station as the council approved earlier and hired an architect to design it. On Monday, the body voted unanimously to contract with Eastern Wake Fire and Rescue to provide coverage for the Poplar Village, Riverview Commons and Cheswick subdivisions.

The subdivisions are outside a five-mile service area of the Knightdale Fire Station on Smithfield Road. According to fire Chief Tim Guffey, fire stations must be within five miles of the area served. The contract with Eastern Wake can be terminated by either party with 30 days notice. Roberson asked what the town would do if the contract were broken.

Guffey told him that the town could see if the city of Raleigh would take on the area. The chief also explained that the Knightdale department would still respond to fires there, but would not be designated as the first responder.

In other business, council discussed working with N.C. DOT on a greenway plan for Knightdale. The plan calls for a pedestrian bridge over the Neuse River and greenway trail that would connect Knightdale’s greenway from Princeton Manor to the bridge.

The cost of the project is not known, but $700,000 of it could come from N.C. DOT funds. At first, the council wanted to use those funds to pay for a greenway from Harper Park to the Neuse River. Killen told the council that in a recent meeting with N.C. DOT, he, Parks and Recreation Director Tina Cheek and N.C. DOT’s representatives agreed that building the bridge and greenway to Princeton Manor is the preferred plan. Killen said the plan will give Knightdale residents more greenway if it connects to Raleigh’s extensive greenway trail system. The Raleigh greenway is going to be extended across the Neuse from where Knightdale wants to build a bridge, Killen said.

Councilman James Roberson questioned if a greenway was the best use of the town’s money. He said he preferred a bigger Parks and Recreation Department. Roberson said he sees a need to have activities that young people can get involved in to stay out of trouble.

Councilman Mike Chalk said the Parks and Recreation Department had many programs that appeal to young people.

Roberson said a facility like a community center could help.