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June[8~ ~971
<br />
<br />A2 a regular meeting of the City Council, held on June 8, 1971, there were present:
<br />
<br />Jack P. Barnes, James W. Holley, Burrell R. Johnson, Isaac W. King, R. Irvine Smith,
<br />Raymond B. Smith, Raymond Turner, A. P. Johnson, Jr., City Ma~ger and M. A. Kerb, Jr.,
<br />City Attorney.
<br />
<br />Prayer was offered by Councilman Isaac King.
<br />
<br />Mayor Barnes extended a word of welcome to the visiting citizens.
<br />
<br /> 71-237 Public Hearing on Budget 1971-72 the following spoke in opposition to the
<br />proposed budget:
<br />
<br />Mr. George Walker Citizen
<br />Mr. Jerome Cart Portsmouth Board of Realtors
<br />Mr. E. R. Peele Cradoek Property Owners Assn.
<br />Mr. J. P. Donlan Citizen
<br />Mr. Bruce Newman Citizen
<br />A Mr. Ellis Citizen
<br />Mr. Stewart Mathews - Circle Restaurant
<br />Mr. Everette Barnes - Citizens (Bbert)
<br />Mrs. Lucille 01d - Citizen
<br />Mr. Joseph Moore, Sr. - Citizen
<br />Mr. C. W. Perkinson President, Local 539, Firefighters
<br />Mr. W. C. Gavin Police Department
<br />Mr. Benjamin Levy Representing Tidewater Assn. of Home
<br />Dr. Louis H.
<br />Mrs. Martha
<br />Dr. H~e~y N.
<br />
<br /> Builders
<br /> Henry - ODU, Economics Professmr - Tidewater Assn. of
<br />Gavin - Citizen Support police ramses.
<br /> Johnson, Jr. letter as follows:
<br />
<br />Home Builders
<br />
<br /> "This is to register opposition to the City Manager's proposal that a license fee of
<br />610.00 per unit plus a tax of one percent of the gross receipts from rental properties be in-
<br />cluded in the City's revenue-raising plans for fiscal 1971-72.
<br />
<br /> The Ebenezer Non-Prof~ Corporation has pioneered in the local development of rental
<br />housing units for citizens of modest income at prices they could afford to pay. The proposed
<br />license fee and tax, while not yielding a significantly large increase to the City from
<br />business licenses, will impose a great burden on citizens of modest income who ~ent their
<br />dwellings, since, in an operation of a non-profit corporation such as ours, such increased
<br />costs of operation cannot be absorbed.
<br />
<br /> We respectfully request that this part of the~revenue plan be deleted not only for the
<br />citizens we serve but for all other renting families of modest means who will ultimately pay
<br />these fees and taxes through increased rents."
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Inez D. Baker - representinggthe Federation of Civic Clubs of Portsmouth a~oke
<br />~nd ~pesented the following mep~m~a.t
<br />
<br /> "On Monday, March 22, 1971, the Federatian of Civic Clubs met in ~§gular session and the I
<br />first order of business presented by the President was the problem of ~eal estate taXes. Many~
<br />members had complained about the matter. A lengthy discussion followed, and as a result a
<br />five (S) member committee was appointed and hharges with responsibility for looking into the
<br />City's tax structure, with special emphasis on real eatate taxes. The committee was told to
<br />report back to the membership at the May meeting.
<br />
<br /> The full committeemmet on three occasions - April 13,
<br />views of interested and aggrieved~persons have been heard
<br />committee members during this period of time~
<br />
<br /> A~Mil 27, and May 18. In addition,
<br />almost constantly by individual
<br />
<br /> The committee believes this study to be as complete as possible considering the time
<br /> allotted, and submits the following observations and recommendations.
<br />
<br /> It was determined, after re~iew of state and local law, that the taxpayer can hold but on{e
<br />body responsible for the tax situation of the City, and that, is the City Council. The City
<br />Manager and the City Assessor are appointed by the council to serve at its discretion. The
<br />City Council has sole authority for raising and lowering tax rates. The City Assessor's
<br />job is to place a fair market value on property assessed.
<br />
<br /> Taxpayers, without exception, want to know ~he truth about the City's financial status.
<br />They want to know all about anticipated revenues, needs for additional funds, costs involved
<br />for operational expenses, salaries paid to department heads and other city employees, school
<br />costs, welfare costs, the status of all non-taxable property, bonded indebtedness and i~terest
<br />~osts, etc.
<br />
<br /> There was some question as to why the City Code calls for real estate owned by white
<br />persons and real estate owned by colored persons to be assessed separately.
<br />
<br /> It was observed that during the past ten years land values, according to assessments,
<br />have increased 100% and taxes have increased 150%~
<br />
<br />RECOMMENDATIONS
<br />
<br />1. Suggest that City Council look to a stricter program of economy.
<br />
<br />2. Suggest to City Council that a body of local successful business people be drafted
<br /> and asked to assist the City of Portsmouth in an efficiency study.
<br />
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