Minutes 05/12/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 12, 2020 4) Voicemail "Hello, My name is ... Cracker, and I am calling to voice my opposition to the proposed raising for the Needle Tax, the City of Portsmouth, and also the increases in the water rate as well as the sewer rates. I would appreciate the city council voted no to these proposed increases." 5) I oppose the proposed meal tax increase. This is hardly the time to add to the burden of these struggling businesses. I understand that Portsmouth needs more revenue, but I do not support increasing the meal tax. Our city is fortunate to have several excellent restaurants and I worry that some of them will not survive the shutdown. These businesses are truly an asset to Portsmouth. We need to do all we can to preserve them. Phyllis Shannon 1073 Estates Court Portsmouth 23703 6) I do not agree that an increase in the meal tax should be included in the new budget proposed by the city manager. Small businesses and restaurants have been hurt greatly by the coronavirus pandemic. Please don't make it any harder for our restaurants to bounce back once they are allowed to fully open for business. Grace V. C. Arnette 4720 Norman Rd. 7) In response to the City Manager's proposed meal tax hike, I believe that a 15% increase from 6.5% to 7.5% will seriously harm the city's restaurants. These businesses have already been devastated by the Pandemic, and this increase makes a very bad situation even worse! The average Portsmouth citizen has enough financial concerns to deal with due to the Pandemic, without having a barrage of new tax increases thrust upon them. Many have lost their jobs. Where are they going to find extra money for increases on water, sewage, and storm water fees? Increases of 7% to 15% are way out of line with the average annual inflation rate (CPI) of 2% for the past 10 years. Please find more budget cuts instead of forcing new tax increases on us during a serious Pandemic induced recession. I'm afraid that the people that can afford to do it, will migrate out of Portsmouth, which would worsen the budget problem. This is a serious matter. Please look for budget cuts instead of tax increases on our good citizens. Thank you for consideration of my views. John Winborne 8) My name is Tiffany Pierce-Horton and my husband, Chris Horton, and I live at 1500 Leckie St in the great city of Portsmouth, Virginia. We strongly urge all council members to please vote NO on Agenda item (b) to increase the Restaurant Meal Tax from 6.5% to 7.5%. Our restaurants have suffered from toll increases and now, more than ever, they are fighting to stay open during Covid-19. To increase the restaurant meal tax would be the literal nail in the coffin for our local restaurants--many of which have been a part of our city for decades. Our restaurants contribute to our beautiful city, bring in guests from all around Hampton Roads, and bolster our city's economy.