Democratic primary: Three offices on ballot for Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH

Portsmouth voters head to the polls Tuesday to vote in the Democratic Primary. The local races are for the seats of treasurer, sheriff and commissioner of revenue. The treasurer and sheriff races are contested.

Leading into the final days of the election, city treasurer candidates continued to talk about the percentage of current year tax collections. Incumbent James L. “Jimmy” Williams is facing the first challenge in his 16-year tenure as the city’s treasurer from Bruce Gary LaLonde, chairman of the city’s Municipal Finance Commission.

LaLonde has focused on delinquent property tax collections in the last three fiscal years.

In fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, the city has collected 83.7 percent, 82.1 percent, and 80.3 percent of those taxes before the end of the fiscal year, according to Portsmouth’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

That’s a much lower percentage than other cities in South Hampton Roads, LaLonde said. Their collection percentages are generally above 90 percent. He argues that delinquent collections have contributed to the city’s recent budget shortfalls.

Williams responded that the same report also notes that because personal property taxes are due June 5, or 25 days before the end of the fiscal year, the majority of delinquent taxes are collected in the next fiscal year.

He also pointed out that the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia, which accredits treasurers’ offices around the state, assesses offices on delinquent taxes a year after the due date.

His office has met the state standards on delinquent tax collection for accreditation.

Williams also noted that while his office does not have a satellite office, residents can make payments at Wachovia Bank branches.

In the race for sheriff, incumbent Sheriff W.O. “Bill” Watson has raised and spent about four times as much in campaign funds as has Douglas H. Funkhouser, the Portsmouth police detective challenging him.

Watson had spent $47,577 as of June 1, largely on signs and a newspaper ad. He had another $7,821 available.

Contributions came from, among others, several sheriff’s office employees, city officials such as Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas and Treasurer James L. “Jimmy” Williams, Democratic Del. Johnny Joannou, and several representatives of 24 Hour Bail Bond.

Funkhouser had spent $12,888 on largely the same things, leaving him $308 in the hole.

Contributors included several police officers and the Southeast Chapter of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association.

Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com; Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com