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302 <br /> <br />April 29, 1987 <br /> <br />Human Services <br /> <br />During this fiscal year, we will move several departments into the <br />former Sears building on High Street. Such a move will allow for <br /> ~lidation of our Social Services divisions that are now located <br />four different locations. The centralized location w[tl better <br />erve citizens, as well as eliminate the Department's crowded condi- <br />ions. Likewise, this location will be convenient to a larger per- <br />enrage of our Social Services' clients. It will also assist our <br />development in the Central Bus,ness District~and Olde Towne by <br />allowing the sale of three municipal buildings. In addition, the <br />ive services center of the old Sears build~ing will house a <br />arage complement for Police vehicles and remove a burden of crowede <br />~onditions at the Public Works compound. Also, extremely crowded <br />~onditions in the Department of Housing & Community Development re- <br />sulting from increased minimum housing enforcement positions~will <br />be addressed because they, too, will move to this structure. <br />Finally, the City Physician's Office will also be in this building, <br />eliminating the ~ecessity to keep the old Health Building on the <br />~orner of London and Green in ~u%lic ownership. <br /> Public Utiliti-es <br /> <br /> Public Utility operation continues to be financially sound, and <br /> here is no proposed increase in water rates. In order to ensure a <br /> mtinued return on ivestment in our sewer operations, there is a <br />slight increase in sewer maintenance charges of five cents per <br />hundred cubic feet, or about seventy-five cents ~er bi-monthly <br />~illing, [or the average residential customer. This budget also <br /> .ontinues the polic~-~ established t~ years ago to increase the <br /> waste charges to industrial and commercial businesses over a <br />period of four years. The final increase next year will coincide~ <br />wth the transfer of the City's sewage treatment plant to Hampton <br />Roads Sanitation District. <br /> <br />Education <br /> <br />You have consistently supported School Board budgets since I have <br />been City Manager. Last year, because of the large percentage of <br />increase in State funds, I was able to recommend the School Board <br />budget be adopted as submitted. Substantial State increases have <br />continued this year; kowever, with the desire ~o reduce the tax rat <br />and because of the low Consumer Price Index, it is necessary to re- <br />duce the recommended increase of ~he School Board by $1 million. <br />Such action still ensures that we are meeting the General Assembly <br />mandate of 10% ~alary increases for classroom teachers. <br /> <br />Medical Coverage <br /> <br />During this fiscal year, we have initiated a program to allow em~ <br />ployees alte'rnative choices for medical coverage. Approximately <br />40% elected to join the health maintenance organizations, or HMO's, <br />and 60% remained with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. For each of these, <br />the Cit~pays90% of the cost of the employees' coverage. New rates <br />will go into effect on July 1, 1987, and are expected to be about <br />15% higher than present. I have included £unding ~n this budget <br />for the City's share of these anticipated rate increases. <br /> <br />Employee Compensation <br /> <br />I have included in this budget a general wa~e increase of 3%. In <br />1983, I indicated to you that even though unemployment was high, we <br />were losing perscnnel to other public and private agencies because <br />of low salaries. Portsmouth employees were below average in every <br />category with comparable pcsitions in the cities of Norfolk, <br />V~rginia Beach and Chesapeake. Pretective services at that time <br /> <br /> <br />