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March 25, 2019 <br /> <br />I am proposing in the Capital Improvement Program which supports multi-year projects <br />and the continuation of ongoing projects such as Seawall Improvement, City Fiber <br />Network, Sportsplex Complex Improvements, Churchland Bridge Replacement and Fire <br />Station. <br /> <br />Several new projects to include: <br /> <br /> <br /> Widening of Twin Pines Road <br /> <br /> Voice-over-Internet Protocol Migration <br /> <br /> Municipal Document Management System <br /> <br />Future Outlook <br /> <br />Mayor, Vice Mayor and Members of City Council – I have presented this evening the <br />NO <br />proposed FY2020 Budget that is a sound, balanced, and fiscally prudent budget with <br />REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE. <br /> for the fourth year in a row <br /> <br />th <br />As I take just a moment to reflect on the 207 day of my fourth year as City Manager, <br />And think back 100 years ago to the words of City Manager J.P. Jervey that deserves <br />repeating, <br /> <br />“Our future must be visualized and the progress and prosperity of the City as a whole <br />must be the governing principle, rather than the present advantage and convenience of <br />the few… This goal can only be obtained by mutual concessions and good faith.” <br /> <br />I continue to remain encouraged that the New Portsmouth is reaching new heights and <br />experiencing new growth based on the vision set by you the Members of City Council and <br />the desires of our citizens. <br /> <br />George Bernard Shaw stated: <br /> <br />“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our <br />future.” <br /> <br />I know that through continuing to work together, Portsmouth future will be brilliant, for we <br />are extraordinary when working together. <br /> <br />The future is far too important to treat with fantasy because there are endless possibilities <br />and opportunities ahead of us as we continue our journey of creating the New <br />Portsmouth. <br /> <br />We need to always remember the future because the precedents we set today governs <br />the future of tomorrow. We must remember the future as we decide the forward path of <br />our beloved city of Portsmouth because it will apply to the things we cannot foresee in the <br />future. <br /> <br />As we reimagine past paths today, we are conscious of our decisions and their impact on <br />the future yet to come. It is our duty to ensure that 100 years from now in 2120 when our <br />citizens in the far future look back upon our work here today, they will look upon our work <br />compass sails remainNew <br />with pride and know that our and set toward reimagining a <br />Portsmouth. <br /> <br />Final <br /> <br />Mayor Rowe, Vice Mayor Lucas-Burke, Members of City Council, the FY2020 Budget <br />presentation would not be possible without the City’s excellent and dedicated budget <br />team. Please allow me a moment to introduce our team: <br /> <br /> <br /> Deputy City Managers – Mr. LaVoris Pace and Mr. Bob Baldwin, <br /> <br /> Assistant to the City Manager, Ms. Rosylen Oglesby, <br /> <br /> Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Cheryl Spivey, <br /> <br /> Assistant Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Wendy Hu, <br /> <br /> Director of Human Resource Management, Ms. Elizabeth Gooden, <br /> <br /> Budget Officer – Ms. Gloria Washington and Mr. Trey Burke <br /> <br /> Senior Budget Analyst, Ms. Karen Bento, and Mr. Paul Harris, and <br /> <br /> Chief Information Officer, Mr. Daniel Jones <br /> <br /> <br />