The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
With the City Council refusing to raise the real estate tax rate, City Manager William Harrell said Saturday that some public workers probably will be laid off to help close a $23 million budget gap.
Harrell did not reveal details of his proposed budget - he'll do that March 23 - but he outlined about $12.9 million in reductions that will hit social services, public safety and operations departments the hardest.
"This will be a budget no one will like," Harrell said.
Chesapeake was the only South Hampton Roads city to lay off general-wage workers last year, cutting 23 employees. Other cities are talking more seriously about layoffs this year.
School officials say they think they can avoid layoffs this year, largely because of federal stimulus dollars.
The city government faces a different situation, Harrell told the council at a strategy session Saturday. All nine council members made it clear they did not want to raise the real estate tax rate and were more willing to accept job losses and cutbacks at City Hall.
The biggest cuts, about $3.7 million in reductions, will be proposed for the city's human services division, which includes social services, juvenile services and groups such as the Community Services Board, which serves those with mental disabilities or mental health or substance abuse problems.
Harrell will propose about $3 million in reductions in the operations division, which includes public works and development and permits. He will recommend nearly $2.7 million in cuts to public safety, including the police department, sheriff's office and fire department.
"The majority of the reductions there will be in vacant positions," Harrell said.
The proposed budget could slice about $1.9 million from administration and $1.7 million from debt and lock boxes.
"There will be reductions," Harrell said. "You will have various interest groups coming forward and saying, 'Leave us harmless.' "
Council members said they were prepared to make tough choices over the next few months.
"It's like a root canal going through this," Councilwoman Debbie Ritter said. "You do come out well at the end, but it's a tough road to get there."
The council will vote on the budget May 11. The public will have a chance to comment on proposed reductions on April 27 and May 11.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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Chesapeake City Council
Chesapeake City Council members get paid a whopping $12,000 per year. Whoever suggested cutting their pay is either just stupid or extremely misinformed. The security guards get paid more than our city council. I suggest cutting their pay before we cut the councilmen and women's salaries. In all honesty, the city council should probably consider a pay increase just to justify all of the time they put in to try to make Chesapeake better. Obviously they will not do this, because people would call them greedy. 12,000 per year, really?
Not Fair
Why does Chesapeake Police need two Deputy Chief's and please tell us why the Chief keeps handing out promotions to the Brass in the department, while the officers and non sworn personel have to bare the burden of budgetwith no raises.
Freedom of speech ?
This newpaper won`t even post my comments. What`s up with that ?? I am only telling the truth!!
Older Budgets
Ok, here is an idea. How about someone go back and look at the City Budgets from 2002-2004...just before the housing market exploded! Take that budget, adjust the dollars for inflation and see what you have when compared to today's budget. Everyone is blaming the economic downturn and collapse of the housing market on the various City's budgets. My thinking is that if you look at your budget before housing took off and then looking at it now should give you an idea of what expenses have been created or what has grown, lets look at reducing those areas....because clearly we didn't need them before.
Just a thought and I'd love to hear other's thoughts on this.
Budget issues
Budgets have gone up over the last several years. However, the quality of life for many people in Chesapeake improved also. Teacher pay became more realistic, new schools were built, recycling began, and many of our roads greatly improved. Raise the real estate tax just a bit, and keep our quality of life intact. The best communities throughout the US have good schools, good roads, expensive houses, and good public services.
Chesapeake Budget Cuts
Why doesn't the City Council vote to take a pay cut? That would surely put money back in the budget. I for one will not hold my breathe. I work in Chesapeake, as does my husband, neither of us has had a raise lately. We pay more for items we need; not just want. When is the City Council going to wake up and take some of the responsibility for the situation the city is in & stop taking from the poor and lining thier pockets.
START CUTS HERE.....
Do we really need 3 Deputy City Managers? 2 Asst to City Manager?? Encore??
ASST TO THE CITY MANAGER $102,555
ASST TO THE CITY MANAGER $77,250
CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $169,950
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $151,805
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $134,328
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $128,750
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER $59,223
Root Canal?
Reducing the budget by 2.3 percent is like getting a root canal according to council? A $23 million reduction isn't even a good cleaning. Maybe council members should visit my house. I can show them how my family does financial oral surgery at the kitchen table. I'm easy to find, just look for the third house on the block that isn't vacant.
How about
How about cutting from the top first. Take a look at the highest paid positions and cut their income by %50.
What are you willing to give up then?
You don't want the post office to raise the price of stamps, but still want them to deliver on Saturdays. You want local government to cut expenses, don't raise taxes, but still fill your potholes and pick up your trash. So decide how much government you want, and then pay for it. The taxes you pay aren't nearly enough to pay for all the schools, parks, paved roads, sewer, water, national defense, police, fire, Medicare, Social Security and all the other government services you use over your lifetime.