Frugality pervades Norfolk budget hearing

NORFOLK

There were the usual pleas for pay increases for city employees, cost-of-living raises for retirees and more money for school construction. But many among the estimated 250 who came out Wednesday night for a public hearing on the budget seemed to allow that it's time to make do with less.

City Manager Marcus Jones submitted his proposed $1.1 billion budget last week. It is $22 million less than last year and the third year in a row that Norfolk has reduced spending because of declining tax revenues and state funding. The budget calls for no pay increases for city employees, cuts to many departments and no increase in the real estate tax.

"We just don't have any extra money and we shouldn't spend what we don't have," said Peggy Scott, a civic leader in the Tarrallton neighborhood.

Hired as city manager on Feb. 1, Jones immediately opened up the budget process, scheduling four public hearings, holding meetings with more than a dozen civic and business groups and appointing a budget advisory committee to help him write the budget.

He also pressed the City Council to begin televising its informal work sessions, including Tuesday's budget work session.

"The way Marcus reached out to people and got them engaged in the process makes a lot of people feel like this is a very fair budget," Mayor Paul Fraim said. "Marcus has won over a lot of hearts."

Even so, school officials and employees politely scolded the council for the physical deterioration of many school buildings and for the lack of pay raises.

Superintendent Richard Bentley, in his first year, said he toured every school shortly after coming to Norfolk and found leaks everywhere.

"Water kills buildings. We can and must do better," he said.

School Board Vice Chair Karen Jones Squires said that four years ago, the school system did a study identifying more than $800 million in needed renovations and construction.

She described buildings where school supplies are damaged by leaking roofs, air conditioning systems fail and wiring for computers is "taped and draped."

Fraim said in his 2010 State of the City address that his goal was to renovate or build five schools over the next six years. Jones' budget calls for a more modest goal - one new or renovated school every three years.

Fraim said he still hopes the city can meet the goal he set.

"The fight the school system has is with the state, not the city," he said, noting that the city did not reduce school funding. The state cut nearly $9 million to the Norfolk schools this year.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com