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RUBLIC UTILITY FUND
<br />
<br />ESTIMATED REVENUE RECEIPTS
<br />
<br />$4,193,80~.00
<br />
<br />APPROPRIATIONS FOR EXPENDITURES
<br />
<br />Operating Expenditures
<br />Debt Service
<br /> Total Appropriations
<br />Unappropriated Blance for Contingencies
<br /> Total Appropriations and Unapprdpriated
<br /> Balance
<br />
<br />2,965,966.00
<br />1,224~115.00
<br />
<br />$4,190,081.00
<br /> 5,719.00
<br />
<br />$4,19S,800.00
<br />
<br />LAW LIBRARY FUND
<br />
<br />ESTI!,~TED REVENUE RECEIPTS
<br />
<br />$ 7,500.00
<br />
<br />APPROPRIATI+DNS FOR EXPENDITURES
<br />
<br />Operating Expenditures
<br /> Total Appropriations
<br />Unappropriated Bi~ance for Contingencies
<br /> Total Appropriated and Unappropriated
<br /> Balance
<br />
<br />5,500.00
<br />
<br />5,500.00
<br />2,000.00
<br />
<br />7,500.00
<br />
<br />The following people spoke:
<br />
<br />E. W. Lewis, representing Senior Citizens
<br />Patrolman W. C. Gavin, Police Department
<br />Charles W. Ferguson, Fire Department
<br />Kenneth G. Ballentine, Fire Department
<br />James O. Ballentine, Fire Department
<br />Howard C. Dixon, Water Department
<br />Attorney Norman 01itsky, representing Pire,
<br /> Police and Water Department employees
<br />
<br />John A. Whitehead, Fire Department
<br />Maywood O. Lawrence
<br />Mrs. Sam Stewart
<br />William T. Dawson, Portsmouth Police and
<br /> Fire Departments, representing also RichaMd ~p~rnee
<br />Sam A. Howard, City incinerator empoyee
<br />James Jenkins, Senior Citizen
<br />Thomas E. Calloway, Local ~35
<br />Louis T. Faison, Local 7SS
<br />
<br />Attorney Donald Kilgore, speaking on utility tax increase - presented the following resolution:
<br />
<br /> "In a resolution adopted by the Portsmouth City Council on November 11, 1969, the Portsmouth
<br />Chamber of ~ommerce was charged with the responsibility for Industrial and Commercial development
<br />in the City.
<br />
<br /> As City Council is ~ware, industrial development is a highly competitive field. One of ~he
<br />major elements in creating a favorable industrial development climate is an equitable and reasonable
<br />tax structure. In addition, the taxes must be competitive with other comparable areas in the State.
<br />Inordinately high taxes can be detrimental, if not fatal, to any industrial development effort. An
<br />analysis of utility taxes imposed by the cities ~n Virginia reveals that none has a rate higher than
<br />the 20% now assessed by Pot~Rmouth and of the five cities with a comparable-rate only two have a
<br />higher ceiling ie. Norfolk and Roanoke.
<br />
<br /> Removal of the tax ceiling on utilities would place Portsmouth at a disadvantage in the industrial
<br />development arema.
<br />
<br /> In any action to increase taxes upon the purchase of services currently being taxed such an in-
<br />crease should be applied proprortionately to all like services.
<br />
<br /> The Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce is fully cognizant of the ever increasing pressdres upon
<br />the city goverrment for added and expanded services and facilities. We are equally aware that these
<br />increased demands require additional revenues.
<br />
<br /> Industrial growth is a major source of new revenues to a city through the added tax monies and the
<br />ultimate revenues to be realized from new jobs and new payroll dollar~.
<br />
<br /> It is reemphasized that any taxes that are of such magnitude as to adversely effect the competitive
<br />position of Portsmouth can be seriously detrimental to the industrial and commercial development efforts
<br />of the city.
<br />
<br /> It is recommended, therefore, that no increases in utility taxes be enacted until an in-dept
<br />study can be conducted to determine the effects of such increases upon existing industry and upon
<br />the competitive position of Portsmouth in relation to other cities in Virginia, and to ascertain the
<br />amount~ of revenues to be realized from such increases."
<br />
<br />Attorney H. Thomas Fennell, tax situation spoke.
<br />
<br />S. H. Blackwell, Jr., Manager, VEPCo, presented the following statement:
<br />
<br />"My na~e is W. H. Blackwell, and I am Portsmouth Manager for Virginia Electric and Power Company.
<br />Vepco is opposed to the proposed increase in the tax imposed on utility services. We have found
<br />that when the ~ility tax is imposed or increased, our customers believe their electric bills have been
<br />increased rather than their taxes.
<br />
<br /> The Company incurs all the costs of collecting the tax and receives all the complaints about the
<br />increased cost of utility service. The City collects the tax with no cost whatsoever. Although this
<br />is an increasing cost to Vepco, it is not the reason we are appearing in opposition to the tax increase.
<br />
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