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May 13, 2025 <br /> <br />At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, there were <br />present: <br /> <br />Mayor Shannon E. Glover, Vice Mayor Wiliam E. Moody, Jr., Mark A. Hugel, Vernon L. <br />Tillage, Jr., Kathryn W. Bryant, Dr. William S. Dodson, Jr., Yolanda E. Thomas, City <br />Manager Steven Carter, Deputy City Attorney Derek G. Challenger. <br /> <br /> Bishop Yvonne Wright-Dunn provided invocation which was followed by the <br />Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. <br /> <br /> Mayor Glover called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. <br /> <br /> Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Hugel, to adopt the minutes of a Called <br />Meeting of April 22, 2025, and of a Regular Meeting of April 22, 2025, was adopted by <br />the following vote: <br /> <br />Ayes: Bryant, Dodson, Hugel, Moody, Thomas, Tillage, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />- Public Hearing - <br /> <br />25-125 Public hearing on proposed real property tax increase. <br /> <br />1. Sheila Joseph, 139 Grand Street, voiced her concern with taxes on personal <br /> property that’s paid off. <br /> <br />- City Manager’s Report - <br /> <br />25 - 126 - Adoption of ordinances to appropriate the total sum of $1,021,651,040 for <br />the operation of the City Government for Fiscal Year 2026 for the following areas: <br />City Operating Budget -- $584,851,511; Capital Improvement Fund $143,387,980; <br />and Portsmouth Public Schools Operating Budget -- $293,421,549. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />On March 24, 2025, the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget and Capital <br /> <br />Improvement Program (CIP) was presented to City Council to include Portsmouth Public <br />Schools. Changes to the originally proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget and CIP are <br />detailed on that certain “FY 2026 Proposed to Adopted Budget Reconciliation” attached <br />hereto. <br /> <br /> <br />The proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is for Fiscal Years 2026-2030, <br /> <br />with an appropriation of the necessary funds in the Capital Improvement Fund for Year <br />One of the Program. <br /> <br /> <br /> The budget was discussed during March and April with each member of City <br />Council, and public hearings were held on April 8 and 22, 2025. The attached ordinances <br />are required for adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget and the Capital <br />Improvement Budget. <br /> <br /> A public hearing required by state code regarding the effective tax rate increase <br />will be held on May 13, 2025. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />Per Section 3.16 of the City Charter, the budget must be in balance, with estimated <br /> <br />revenues equaling expenditures. The Proposed Operating and Capital Improvement <br />Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026 comply with this law. <br /> <br />City Operating Budget <br /> <br />The Ordinances necessary to adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget are <br /> <br />attached to this report for City Council action as follows: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />