Minutes 02/10/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Februar~ 10, 2004 WHEREAS, the City is also adversely affected by many of the same problems confronting Virginia's older cities, such as lower average incomes, a reduced commercial and industrial base, and a numerically-declining and aging population; and WHEREAS, due to the level of poverty among Portsmouth's citizens and despite the best efforts of the Portsmouth school division and others, children in the City of Portsmouth enter school with fewer and lower educational skills than their peers in other more-affluent areas; and WHEREAS, Portsmouth already has the highest real property tax rate in the Hampton Roads area and few other available revenue-producing means; and WHEREAS, the quality of education in the City of Portsmouth has suffered as the City Council has attempted to address the needs of all of its citizens; and WHEREAS, the federal No Child Left Behind Act has placed additional and unprecedented financial and performance demands on the City; and WHEREAS, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) has, on a number of occasions, stated that the Commonwealth of Virginia has not met its obligations with respect to the funding of education throughout the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, because of the concentration of federal Department of Defense installations that occupy a large area of the City, the rate of federal contributions to City expenses is even lower than if the land had been occupied by other federal agencies; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is using federal and local funds to fund the Commonwealth's own Standards of Quality. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council and the School Board of the City of Portsmouth that they appeal to the Governor and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia that the Commonwealth of Virginia Standards of Quality be funded with state funds. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and the General Assembly are additionally requested to provide the City of Portsmouth, through whatever means available, with relief from the City's severe fiscal challenges that would not exist except for the unique and overwhelmingly negative effects of the tax exempt nature of such a large portion of the City's land area and facilities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a true copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to the Governor and to the members of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ayes: Benn, Griffin, Moody, Pitts, Randall, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None Council Benn thanked all of Staff for an outstanding job on the Boards and Commissions Retreat. Vice Mayor Griffin spoke on the presentation of the Joint Resolution. Mayor Holley appointed Vice Mayor Griffin, Chair; Councilman Moody, and Councilman Pitts as a 3-person liaison committee to work with Lee A. Dumbauld, Chief Financial Officer, on Economic and Financial priorities with Councilwoman Randall as an alternate. Also, he appointed Councilman Benn as liaison to the Hoffler Creek Foundation. 03 - 65 - Non-Agenda Speakers 1. J. Brewer Moore, 308 Bobby Jones Drive, spoke on the flawless arrangements for the Boards and Commissions Retreat. 2. Evelyn Hyman, 1706 Parker Avenue, spoke on the image of Portsmouth.