The Bowling Green City Commission passed the second reading of the 2004 fiscal year budget plan on Tuesday afternoon. The new budget includes a $22.7 million increase in spending, a 43-percent jump. The total cost of the new budget is just over $77 million, and includes a pay-adjustment plan for city employees that the city hopes will bring their pay scale up to market average.

Full-time city employees will receive a two-percent across-the-board pay raise, a plan that will cost the city $1.5 million in the next fiscal year.

The new budget also includes allocations for the design and construction management of a three-phase expansion of Police Headquarters.