Norfolk council seems to endorse city manager's budget

NORFOLK

Given its first chance to find fault with the proposed city budget, City Council found little Tuesday.

“It’s one of your best budgets,” Mayor Paul Fraim told City Manager Regina V.K. Williams during the council’s first discussion on the $1.2 billion plan she revealed last week. “If we had to vote on it tomorrow, I could vote for it.”

A vote won’t come until May 20.

The plan increases spending for public safety, neighborhoods and education and expands hours at libraries and recreation centers. Changes are likely to be minor, as most council members voiced approval.

“You did a good job trying to placate a number of needs around the city,” Councilman W. Randy Wright said.

Williams proposed leaving the tax rate at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value. That would result in a real estate tax increase for most residents, because assessments are projected to rise by an average of 3.1 percent for existing homes.

After trimming the tax rate by 16 cents last year, there seems little appetite on the council to cut again. Of the eight council members, only Barclay C. Winn and Wright have endorsed a tax-rate cut.