VIRGINIA BEACH
The boat tax is out, the Town Center bridge is in, and the Consumer Affairs Program isn’t going anywhere.
The majority of City Council informally agreed to all that – and higher raises for city employees – at a budget meeting Tuesday. No decisions are final until the budget for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 is voted on next week.
“Given the economy, this list cannot accommodate everything the City Council would like to see addressed,” said Vice Mayor Louis Jones, “but we feel that it addresses the major concerns.”
Jones added he and Mayor Meyera Oberndorf tried to broker a compromise that sat isfied all 11 council members. Under the deal:
- The real estate tax rate remains at 89 cents per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a home assessed at the current city average of $323,000 pays $2,875 a year in real estate taxes.
- The boat tax on pleasure boats will not be raised, and money for dredging will be partially made up with storm water project money from the state.
nEmployees will get 2.5 percent raises. The budget proposed by City Manager Jim Spore offered 1.5 percent raises. Most sworn public safety officers will get a 1 percent raise, in exchange for a higher pension contribution they accepted last year.
- The city will not eliminate the Consumer Affairs Program. It will cost $339,000 to retain the four-person office.
- The budget for fire safety education and part-time fire inspectors will be restored. Those programs cost just less than $380,000.
- The city pays $3.15 million for a proposed pedestrian bridge over Virginia Beach Boulevard. Debt for the bridge – which would link Town Center to Pembroke Mall – would be paid for by a newly created taxing district on the north side of the boulevard.
The district would be created later this year. The bridge would only be built if the mall commits “to a major capital investment in its properties,” Jones said. Councilman Bill DeSteph was the only other member to publicly offer a list of budget ideas. He suggested spiking the Town Center bridge, cutting the city’s media and communications office, and lowering the city’s surplus for emergencies.
“In today’s restricted budgetary times,” DeSteph said, “these are the tough questions we should be asking.”
Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com
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Where are the cuts?
City Council increased spending a few million, didn't do the Boat Tax, kept the Property Tax rate the same...but what was cut to cover it? I'll have to see the Streaming Video.
The Dome site and NS ROW will be done later.
New money is bad?
So if the state decides to fund roads after all you would be unhappy?
If the state or federal government decide to participate in the NS right-of-way you would be unhappy?
If a TIF district is set up to pay for the Dome site you would be unhappy?
Personally, anything that takes the monkey off the back of the residential real estate tax makes sense for me!
Nice job council
Well it seems the budget is a done deal for the next two years. I can't wait to see if money magicly appears to fund new projects like the Dome site, NS ROW and a new convention center hotel. I support the budget and City Council members but if new money appears, the council has to go... I really hope we don't see a "Bait & Switch" with the budget ....
Good Job City Council!
I am pleased to read that City Council made so many wise decisions last night. Having only the Town Center property owners that benefit from the $3.5M footbridge pay for the bridge instead of the 435,000 residents that do not - was a good decision. Keeping the Consumer Protection office open was also a good decision. I agree with the need for our city's workforce to have a higher raise, who doesn't need one? The cost of everything seems to be climbing at an alarming rate. Since the city has enjoyed windfall tax increases due to 7 years of skyrocketing assessments, they don't need to keep raising taxes, they collect plenty of money from us; so not increasing the boat tax was a good decision too. Bill DeSteph deserves special praise for pointing out the need to reduce non-essential spending and cut back on the City's Public Relations machine. Good job!