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March 25, 2019 Life Long Learning From public education to higher education to workforce development, this budget continues to nurture and build partnerships that propel the city toward academic success. A lifelong learning community works to enhance citizen engagement, reduce crime and poverty, increases productivity, and affords our citizens every opportunity to become local, regional, and global contributors to society. Workforce Development: Internal Focus Preparing the workforce of the future will require our city employees to adapt and positively respond to an ever-changing working environment by leveraging technological advances and providing excellent customer service. Our emphasis on Talent Acquisition will include the expansion of our Fellowship and Internship Program to include an apprenticeship and summer youth career programs to assist with the cultivation of future talent in some critical positions impacting not only the city of Portsmouth but also the nation. For Fiscal Year 2020, I am proposing a two percent (2%) General Wage Increase effective July 1, 2019, for General employees, who were hired on or before January 1, 2019, excluding employees of constitutional officers and courts, grant-funded positions, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees. In addition to the two percent (2%) General Wage Increase, I am proposing to continue our living wage salary adjustments that begin in FY 2017 to address city employees who make less than thirty-thousand dollars annually. The FY 2020 budget also reserves funding for the city’s local share of Governor Northam’s proposed three percent (3%) salary increase for Constitutional Officers and their employees effective July 1, 2019. Workforce Development: External Focus Having access to a highly skilled workforce is key to any company’s success. For the city of Portsmouth to maintain its position in an increasingly competitive and challenging environment, workforce development will be a top priority. The core of any workforce development effort is the need to help workers develop the skills necessary to adapt to change, meet the challenges of an evolving economy, and find good-paying jobs. The city is fully engaged and has created a program to address this important issue. Portsmouth We will continue the strategic initiative of HIRE which aligning partnerships in workforce development, education, and economic development through reinforcing strategies that will provide for job seekers and workers high-quality career services, education, training, and support services to get good jobs and remain employed. Public Education Back in 2017, while presenting the FY 2018 Budget to City Council, I stated that “the future growth of the New Portsmouth is dependent on continuing to build collaborative and strategic partnerships toward an investment in knowledge. As the level of education rises in a community, so does the economic viability and quality of life.” I believe this holds true today. Education is the best investment we can make – one that pays off in countless dividends for our children, community, and city. To improve the quality of life in our city, attract new industries, and continue to prosper as a community, excellent schools are essential. As the City Manager, I recognize the importance of investing our time and money in the education of our children. The question that we wrestle within each year’s budget is how much should be allocated given all of the City’s competing priorities and the limited tax revenues to support services to include public education with a continual decline in school enrollment.