The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
To minimize a potential tax rate hike, the City Council agreed Saturday to cut more than $1 million from the proposed budget.
The council wants to close a budget gap of about $3.5 million by cutting expenses instead of raising the tax rate by 5 cents. The reductions from Saturday's work session would offset about 2 pennies of that rate increase.
The largest cut - $500,000 - is to come from schools. Council members said they planned to earmark the city's contribution to schools in a way that the reduction could not be used to lay off teachers.
About 90 minutes was spent going through a list of potential reductions. The suggestions, proposed by City Manager Kenneth Chandler and others, came in response to a council directive to shave an additional 5 percent from department budgets on top of an 11 percent decrease in most areas.
The council agreed to save $42,000 on a tuition assistance program for employees and to reduce funding for economic development by $100,000.
Other savings will come by not hiring some positions that had been approved in spite of the current hiring freeze. Keeping a library position open will save about $25,000, and holding off on hiring an inspector for new construction will save about $51,000.
Council members rejected some proposals. They decided to spend $11,650 on new uniforms for the Fire Department rather than postpone the purchase.
"I don't want raggedy-looking firemen, Mr. Mayor," Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas said.
A majority, with Councilman Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. dissenting, supported an additional $45,000 reduction to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Vice Mayor Bill Moody Jr. said they should challenge the organization to find more private money.
"I know that board consists of high-powered folks who are very good at fundraising," he said.
The council will discuss further cuts at another work session at 6 p.m. Monday, leading to a possible vote on the budget Tuesday. One of the biggest items still on the table is a $200,000 reduction to the golf fund, which supports Bide-A-Wee Golf Course.
After the meeting, Moody and Councilman Steve Heretick said that while the council will keep looking for savings, it might have to settle for a tax rate increase of 2 or 3 cents. That would pay for a proposed $2.3 million retention plan for public safety workers.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Be for real get a BACKBONE
Come on get some back bone the people that are sitting on there butts and collecting welfare needs to FINALLy get off there butts and get a JOB and make their own money the people are using the system to get FREE money every month go in the food stamp office and look at the people the have diamond's on every finger bling on the neck and drive BRAND new cars there is some people that may need it but not all that is getting are tax money...Oh please dont tell us you dont know the tricks there is people out here that really do need it and can not get help.I was one of those people a year ago I went to get help with 6 kids and a husband that was hurt at work and could not work he got one pay check that month that paid the rent with no money left for food what was i told he got a check you can go to the food closet and food boy day old breads and cookies what good meals come on Put a limit on how long you can get help then you are on your own get a job that will SAVE MILLIONS Leave the schools alone the children are our future
Couldn't agree more
But you should visit the public schools in Portsmouth and then I wonder if you would still think these 'children' are our future. If that's the case, were screwed.
Social Services Budget
Wonder if the Pilot can get the proposed Social Services budget for the upcoming year ---- wonder what cuts could be made there. If education has to be cut by over 1.6 million (at least) why can't that much be found to cut in social services? It is the role of government to help provide assistance not a life style dependent on the working citizens. Cuts are being made across the board (except for Fireman's uniforms of course) as Mr. Whitehurst has said -- lets look under every rock.
Saving Money in Portsmouth's Budget
The upgrades in the outdoor athletic fields at Wilson High School have been planned for a couple years and are using money that the school board earmarked with limited funds earmarked for capitol projects only(watching school board and city council meetings provided that information). The graduate rate is something that the school system has to improve on but I wish the Pilot would report on the positive things in the Portsmouth School System such as Starbase Victory's STEM Program.
Now let's save some money from the budget --- 11,650 for uniforms delay them for year, sale Bid-A-Wee or cut the 200,000 out (don't even debate it cut it or sale the golf course), make the Safety Pay into a three year plan (like the teacher's plan) and safe at least a million there (1.3 million instead of 2.3 million)at least they will still be getting something which is better than what they have received for the past few years and more to come. Let's raise the city's prepared food tax a penny (a few cents more at McDonalds is something most will not care or even notice). Yes the tax rate will go up a couple of pennies but that was always going to happen anyway ----- but I wonder if the pilot can
Where has the money gone?
Where has my money gone from the windfall housing price over inflation? My property taxes have gone up 169% over the past 5 years. I have no children in the public school system and I really can't understand why we continue to throw good money after bad. Kimberly, the 3.5 million is neither city council's money nor is it the school boards money. It's MY money. Use your lawnmower to cut the grass, help yourself instead of crying that the city doesn't do it for you.
Response
While I agree with you on the fact the the city should be smarter about where they spend their money, I feel the nees to correct you. The city is not paying for the work being done at Wilson High School. The School Board is. The school board uses their money in the way that they see fit.
As for the need of the complex you are also wrong. There has been a need since I attend what use to be Manor High School. We have asked for a football field with lights since at least 1985. I know the students before us wanted on as well. It's hard to get into the spirit of your school when you are forced to go to the old Churchland High School or Laurence Stadium to play your home games. The concession that now sits there was built and paid for by the Olive Branch Football Association in order to use the field.
The track field is so bad they can no longer hold meets on it. Grass now goes where asfault should be.
There has never been a high school baseball game played there and the local little league has paid to maintain a field that the school has always played on at their expense. The city was suppose to come and cut the grass however they only do this at their convenience not
City Budget
Following the traffic circle blunder, I would have thought that our city leadership would have learned a lesson about wasteful spending. While I applaud our council and staff for looking for every opportunity to scrub the budget, I think they fail to realize that this process would be much easier if sound decisions were made on how our tax dollars are being spent. While council is rightfully concerned about the much needed public safety uniforms, a three plus million dollar construction project is underway at Woodrow Wilson High to install a new athletic complex. I am amazed that this project was funded at a time when there is a question about available funding to keep the city running, especially since the school has managed just fine without an athletic complex for the past 35 years or so. Now that demonstrates priority spending and sound leadership!
NOT ONE PENNY
I will vote against any council member that votes to approve any budget or more correctly, "spending plan" that includes any tax increase. Current assessments are too high, and when the City has to lower them next year, our rate will increase again. More money should come out of education. The Citizens of Portsmouth spend more money per child than any other locality to educate, only to have less graduates after four years of high school. I suggest cutting the salaries of all council members and senior staff. Cut about 20% off the bloated salary of the School Board supt. David Stuckwisch. Ask the Mayor, to find a new place to eat and sleep, instead of slurping his snacks and mumbling into the microphone at city council meetings. Go after that $100,000 that Louise Lucas cost the city by that scam lawsuit she brought against the city. Sell INTELOS!!, theres nobody, in Portsmouth City govt. that knows or has ever cared what this thing makes or has lost. And pleeeeeeze Elizabeth Psimas enough with the CRYBABY talk about Firepersons "tattered " uniforms. They should be buying their own uniforms out of their own pocket......I but my own clothes, do you? NOT ONE PENNY!!!!!!
wow
A cool million. Guess what Council, there is 49 more million you can cut out of Social Services and Welfare. I've watched your work sessions and you won't even bring that subject up. I guess with elections next year and Doug Smith wanting to be elected to Melvins Congressional seat you are affraid of alienating the Welfare crowd. What a shame. Portsmouth used to be a good city to live in. The word cowardly was brought up at the last Council meeting and I agree.