PORTSMOUTH
The City Council nearly failed to pass a budget Tuesday night after one member argued that it would be balanced on the backs of city employees and their families.
Councilman Steve Heretick pointed out that 205 city employees could lose their jobs to achieve $7.1 million in savings needed to balance the $562.2 million budget.
"I cannot and I will not vote for that," Heretick said.
He said if the council passed the budget, members would lose any control over what happened to city employees.
About 1,000 full-time city workers who are not sworn public safety employees could be affected by the cutbacks.
Heretick's speech drew applause from the filled council chamber.
After he spoke, Heretick and three other council members - Mayor James W. Holley, Vice Mayor Marlene Randall and Councilman Ray Smith - voted against appropriating the money for the budget.
After taking a break and consulting each other, council members reconsidered, agreeing unanimously that the city could consider using its rainy-day fund to balance the budget if need be, then passed the budget.
The budget also called for a reduction in the real-estate tax rate from $1.26 per $100 of assessed value to $1.21. Many property owners will still see an increase in their taxes because city assessments have gone up an average of 5.5 percent this year.
The council also approved a five-year capital improvement plan and allocated $42.2 million for funding those projects in the first year.
They include renovating and expanding the Children's Museum of Virginia, $5 million for the circuit courthouse building, and $1 million to complete construction of Park View Elementary School.
The budget reallocated $4.3 million for the redevelopment of the
waterfront Holiday Inn site, but $7 million will go to debt payment on that project.
Among other budget highlights,
n Sworn police officers and firefighters will receive 4 percent raises, plus about $250,000 to address "wage decompression."
n Sheriff's deputies will receive a 3 percent raise, plus an additional 2 percent raise from the state compensation board in December.
n Full-time general wage employees will get 3 percent raises.
n City pension recipients will get a 1.5 percent cost- of-living adjustment.
Council members followed the recommendation of the Portsmouth Museums and Fine Arts Commission to reallocate money to various arts groups, and did not provide funding to the arts event TodiMusicFest.
Stormwater utility, solid waste collection, water and sewage disposal rates all increased slightly as part of the budget.
About $6.8 million in sewer repairs, $12.4 million in water projects and $2.9 million in drainage and street improvements also were approved.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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My facts are straight...
No disrespect intended but the majority of deputies throw food through a chuckhole for 12 hours then go home. I know I was one for a short period of time. Dangerous? Sure but there is a reason their starting pay is lower than a police officers. The cops (other than the supervisors) arent getting any decompression money AGAIN. My point is that the deputies at least are getting a decent raise, not that they arent underpaid as well. 4% after all the turmoil this year is a slap in the face. Of course the city has been doing it for so long people hardly notice anymore.
I am sorry to say to
humptydumpty1 and Andy32505 get your facts straight. Deputy’s incomes are 20% below any police officers salary. Those guy/gals work hard and face danger on a daily basis too. They are leaving in high numbers and it is getting nearly impossible of hiring and keeping good people in Portsmouth. We are the training ground for other agencies. Deputies are getting only 3% from the City and 2% from the state and no decompression money at all. I have to say if we would get decompression money; it would go to the deputies and not the supervisors. If this does not shake you then let me tell you that there is a hiring freeze imposed by the state. Meaning the sheriff’s office has to wait 90 days before the can rehire a deputy for every deputy that is leaving. That should give everybody a warm feeling given the scenario that five to ten could leave within a few weeks of each other. The sheriff’s office has lost 50 people since the beginning of this year due to salary. Who is going to watch the inmates and the back of the deputy left in the jail? All Portsmouth Safety Agencies face the same problems and we need the help of our citizens.
Makes no sense
Let me see if I've got this straight. We increases the welfare budget by 12 million last year from 38 million to 50 million, yet we are going to lay off 205 people to balance the 2007-2008 budget. Makes sense to me. You have to justify that huge increase in welfare spending someway. What better way to do it then putting 205 more people on welfare. Only in Portsmouth.
Disparity.
Whow what a bright move! City Council just pushed more young officers out of the City! What a terrible message to send Police 4% vs Deputies 5% pay raises, and still no pay plan which this council directed the manager to implement 2 budgets ago! Amazing when you approve a budget with a step in the right direction and you still send the wrong message of insult. You contributed to the problem! Also included a list of expensive projects that money can be found to fund and the proposed pay plan can not. Thank you Mr. Heretick, at least one council member has a little sense. Hope the newly renovated council chambers are comfortable and you can have a good view of the traffic circle and Harbor Center amphitheater all reminders of wastefull spending.
Once again the city drops the ball.
The decompression money is going to supervisors only. Not in the article but its the gospel according to police employees. Now the last three decompression attempts have gone to Sgts. and above. Must be nice to do less and get paid more. Of course thats probably the plan anyway. Pay the guys that crack the whip to keep the little guys in shape and afraid to raise a stink. The majority of the cops that are leaving arent the supervisors its the peons so now (again) the only way to get paid is to become a supervisor or leave...hold on let me guess...wait till next year? Plus the city is giving the deputies 3% plus 2% from the state, deserved? Sure but how does that make the cops feel, that are still only getting 4% and NO decompression. Hey young people looking to make some good money? Get hired by the PPD, you'll pretty much be making the same money as 8, 10, 12 and 15 years veterans and in 2 years you too can transfer to the beach, using your experience gained in Portsmouth and get PAID. By the way citizens there are currently at least 21 officers with an application in at the beach...think they are going to change their mind now? What a joke...
What a joke
This city spends 5 million more on welfare than Chesapeake and Suffolk combined (50 million) yet wants to save 100 thousand by closing the Craddock library? Why is cutting back on welfare off limits? The homeless and crack addicts and gangbangers get treated better than the few taxpayers left. What's sad is we the people had a chance to fix this last Tuesday but couldn't produce enough voters to overcome the welfare crowd. I guess it's time to quit bucking the system and register my vehicles in North Carolina, put Section 8 renters in my property and go with the flow.
This is why
I will continue to vote against every single incumbent in upcoming elections. If you can't figure out how to balance a city budget like its your checkbook, then you don't deserve anyone's vote!
Good Sense
Glad to see at least one sitting councilman has some good sense. Thank you, Mr. Heretick, for stepping up to the plate.