Ordinance approved to help ease pain of divorce

City council members are going against the mayor and approving an ordinance that would prevent the city from collecting real estate transfer taxes when properties change hands in a divorce. The city council's finance committee unanimously passed the measure. It now heads to the full council.

Committee members ignored a plea from the city's revenue department to reject the proposal because of the budget crisis.

The practice raises more than $1.5 million a year.

Aldermen say it's unfair to people who are already dealing with the pain of divorce.