Minutes 05/02/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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438 M~a~ 2, 198.~ As I returned to City Hall after the "State of the City" report, I was able to better focus on the budget and its importance to the community. Often public servants and citizens see the budget as a barometer of what will be ahead -- good or 5ad~ If taxes go down, things%are good; if taxes go up, things are bad. This is not~a::true~p~cture~:~ A~:budge~ is'a mechanism, a tool to accomplish the goals and dreams of the community This year's budget proposa'l is one over which we havo long labored.,:It is~one,_that was not prepared' in 90 days,-bu% one that has been developed over the course. Of the year. ;~i~h this year's budget, we have choices -- choices to continue to have our'City move. f~rward,"or fall backw~rd~and~become s,tagnant. I propose that:-we~mo~e:forward;'that w~ ¢oht~nue,.our~effo~s%t9, address the needs of our community, to expand upon~-the.%~x~base through economic development and to provide the services that City Council and, ci~zehs feel are appropriate)fo~:oUr~City. As such, this budget reflects the necessary revenues to accompllsn.~hese:~asks, in a fiscalty':reS~onsiblevm~nne~~' O~e~ thepas%.,$overal years we have seen~a~ ~mprove~ent in municipal services and facilities as well as improvement school funding. Whil~ g~e~t stridep in physical improvements and programs were made, we were still able to reduce %he real estate tax rate from $1.35 per $100 valuation in 1982 eventually to~ith~ ~rrent rate ~f' $1%2~'pe~$1'~0~a~uati:on-' As Council is aw~r'e', ~his lower rate wasJan opportuni'ty to "return a dividend? t~ our taxpayers fo~ as long ~s we ,co~<~i~s~oad, of continuing w~%h ~he higher' tax'and bu'i~ding l~ger~,e~e~es.~ Indeed, we reduced tax ~ates and postponed increa~es~h-ile al:l the other cities in s~u~h Hampton Roads had tax increases. In th.is budget, I am propqsi~g still leaves us less th~n the $1.35 municipality that will have a rate ago! a tax rate of $1.32 which rate of 1982 and the only less than that of 8 years 1982 F~1990 Proposed I~c~e~ase/Decre,as-e Chesapeake .975 Norfolk 1.30 $1.255 +28~ 1.35 +5~ Portsmouth 1.35 1.32 -3~ Suffolk 1oll 1.30' +1~9~ Virginia Beach .72 %'977~ +25.7~' *Propo~d 1989~90 rate for Suffol~ not,available; fig.ure ~ ~ represen~scurren~ rate. Balancing the budget required that I look beyond th~ real estate tax to all City foes and charges. From golf cart rentals to boat taxes, all sources of revsnue have been analyzed. ~ddit~ona~lly, because~ of tho freeze on personnel and purchases which 1 'implemented last December, we now h~ave the flexibility to save over the short-term, as well as ~es~truct~re certain-departm~nts~-.and positions. I hawe asked departmont heads to.livo with bess and I have been pleased with their response. In short~ because of the freeze, I am able to ~cut 30 vacant positions from the budget. Durin~ the course of t~e coming fiscal year, I have committed to department heads that I will consider budget modifications within their respective funding alloc~tiohs~ As ,a result, while the departmental bottom line may be constant throughout the year, I do not see the budget line items etched in stone.