Minutes 12/13/1977 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

3 3 December 13, 1977 WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth requests the members of the 1978 General Assembly repre~ senting the City of Portsmouth to support such proposals. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, the following matters are itemized as priority legislative proposals of the City of Portsmouth: 1. With regaT~'te~Fublic education, the City of Portsmouth, supports full State funding for the Standards of Quality. For fiscal year 1977-78, the AD~! budget is $825.00 per pupil. In 1971-75, the ADM cost was $1029.00. Therefore, State support is not realistic insofar as the localities are concerned. 1980 pupil/teacher requirements call for 22 students per teacher. Current regulations require 28 students per teacher in a classroom. The 1980 mandate would mean. that the City of Portsmoutk~wo~d~need 65 new teachers in order to meet this requirement. Continu- ation of past State support for public education~together with new State requirements would make it extremely difficult for Portsmouth to continue to fund public education at its present level of quality. 2. Support provision of a surtax on the State Income Tax to be distributed to localities on a local option basis. 3. Support the provision for an increase in the sales tax of 1% to be distributed to localities on a local option basis. 4. Support legislation which would increase local revenues from Local or State tax sources or State appropriations. We strongly oppose any freeze, roll-back,~or elimination of local tax sources. 5. Support the position of the Eastern Virginia Medical Authority for a program funded by the State for the hospitalization of indigents. This is especially pertinent to our core cities which have a large indigent population, and desperately need'a more equitable distribution of State funds for this purpose. 6. Support amendments to Sections 58-759.1 and 58.759.2'which are enabling legisla- tion separate real estate tax classifications for residential and commercial buildings. in ~conjunction with these, we also support any legislative efforts which would provide for tax relief in the State Income Tax for the rehabilitation of residential buildings within designated conservation districts in a locality. 7. Support the deferral of any action on House Bill #17 as it currently stands. House Bill #17 would have a significant impact on our local governments if passed in its present state. 8. The State should be obligated to provide the funding or funding mechanisms when mandating the implementation and operation of any program in any category by a locality. 9. Support a recent Council of Transportation Report which would set asidF $45,000,000 !~.~ap~mtral~r~oa~revenues for port development. This would provide the Virginia Port Authority with an annual independent source of revenue to continue port improvements. l~.Urge the:.;~n~al Assembly to enact the Governor's Council on Transportation's recommendations for legislation that will permit localities to enact a sales tax on motor fuel to be used in the discretion of the Transportation District Commission for transpor- tation facilities as defined in Section 15.1-1345(i) of the Code of Virginia. 11. Urge the support of an amendment to 14.1-105.41 of the Code of Virginia relating tO the fees of the High Constables in cities. 12. Support additional funding for State Grants-In-Aid for local public libraries." Ayes: Barnes, Early, Elliott, Holley, Oast, Wentz, Davis Nays: None 77-459 - "Consideration of a resolution establishing January 1Sth as Martin Luther King Day within the City of Portsmouth. The City Council was presented a request in 1977.that we celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, January 15, as a legal City holiday. This item was referred to the City Manager for a report prior to January 1, 1978. The City only has 8 legal holidays in our ordinance. The only one that is celebrated in honor of an individual is ~ashington's Birthday which is a Natinnal, State, and local holiday. The other 7 holidays are National or State holidays celebrating events that are of significance to this'Nation. The City Manager recommends adoption." On motion of Mr. Early and seconded by Mr. Holley, the and by the following vote: and following resolution was adopted, "A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING JANUARY 15, 1978 AS THE }tIRTIN LUTHER KING, JR, DAY. ~HEREAS, the late Martin Luther King, Jr. is a symbol of freedom to many of our citizens