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March 19, 1996 <br /> <br />EDUCATION <br /> <br />A commitment to quality education for our children is <br />important for building the city's future capacity for <br />productive citizens. I ~un pleased that we are able to <br />continue our level of commitment of $24.2 million to the <br />school system, which continues to be the single largest <br />category of expenditure in the city's budget.. In addition to <br />funding an the operating budget; bonds have been authorized, <br />and issued to pay, for the construction of the I. C. Norcom <br />High School. The Commonwealth of Virginia-is making an <br />increased commitment to local education andPortsmouth will <br />benefit from this commitment'by receiving an additional $6.5 <br />million over FY96 revenueestimateS. The~FY97 operating <br />budget Of the school system is $91.7 million which represents <br />a 7.6% increase over the FY96:budget. The ten-year history <br />of the'schOol's operating b~d~et clea~ty illustrates,~ <br />Po=ts~out~h s ~mmm~ment t~ e~ucatlon. <br /> <br />School Board Operating Budget <br /> Ten Year History <br /> <br />I00.000.000 <br /> <br />90.000.000 <br />80,000.000 <br /> <br />70,000.000 <br /> <br />60.000.000 <br /> <br />5~.000.000 <br /> <br />40.000.000 <br /> <br />30,000,000 <br /> <br />20,000,000 <br /> <br />I0,000,000 <br /> <br /> 0 <br /> <br /> 1988 <br /> <br />1989 199o i'99Z i}55 1994 1995 1996 1997 <br /> <br />PUBLIC SAFETY <br /> <br />The safety of Our citizens remains one of City Council's <br />highest prioritieS. In the FY96 budget, the hiring of <br />twenty-one (21) new police officers~was authorized. This <br />budget Continues the funding commitment for public safety and <br />recommends an upgrade of the telecommunications system, <br />additional positions in the commonwealth Attorney's office, <br />and the purchase of new fire apparatuS, <br /> <br />TelecOmmunicati°ns <br /> <br />The telecommunications upgrade includes replacement of the <br />ten transmitters in the main sites. Utilizing the existing <br />transmitters the back-up site will be upgraded to the same <br />functionality as the main site, a capability the city does <br />not currently have. All Portable radios in the Police <br />Department will be replaced aS the age of the existing units <br />has created Problems with repair and availability of spare <br />parts, in addition, the new radios are a necessary step for <br />continuing the conversion to the smartNet II system. The <br />remaining departments in the system will be phased in over <br />the next three years. <br /> <br /> <br />