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May 12, 2026
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<br />At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, there were
<br />present:
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<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, Interim City Attorney Derek G. Challenger.
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<br /> Mayor Glover asked for a moment of silence, which was followed by the Pledge of
<br />Allegiance to the Flag.
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<br /> Mayor Glover called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
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<br /> Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Hugel, to adopt the minutes of a Called
<br />Meeting of April 28, 2026, and of a Regular Meeting of April 28, 2026, was adopted by
<br />the following vote:
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<br />Ayes: Bryant, Dodson, Hugel, Moody, Thomas, Tillage, Glover
<br />Nays: None
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<br />- Public Hearing -
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<br />26-120 Public hearing on proposed real property tax increase.
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<br />1. Donna Biggs, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke in opposition to this item.
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<br />- City Manager’s Report -
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<br />26 - 121 - Adoption of ordinances to appropriate the total sum of $738,960,095 for
<br />the operation of the City Government for Fiscal Year 2027 for the following areas:
<br />City Operating Budget -- $598,146,297; Capital Improvement Fund -- $140,813,798.
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<br />Background:
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<br /> On March 23, 2026, the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget and Capital
<br />Improvement Program (CIP) was presented to City Council.
<br />
<br />The proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is for Fiscal Years 2027-2031,
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<br />with an appropriation of the necessary funds in the Capital Improvement Fund for Year
<br />One of the Program.
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<br /> The budget was discussed during March and April with each member of City
<br />Council, and public hearings were held on April 14 and 28, 2025. The attached ordinances
<br />are required for adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 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 12, 2026.
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<br />Discussion:
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<br /> Per Section 3.16 of the City Charter, the budget must be in balance, with estimated
<br />revenues equaling expenditures. The Proposed Operating and Capital Improvement
<br />Budgets for Fiscal Year 2027 comply with this law.
<br />
<br />City Operating Budget
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<br />The Ordinances necessary to adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget are
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<br />attached to this report for City Council action as follows:
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<br />a) Adoption of an ordinance to amend and reordain Article II (Real Estate
<br />Assessments) of Chapter 35 (Taxation) of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia by
<br />adding a new Division 3 titled “Classification and Assessment of Blighted Properties and
<br />Derelict Buildings” for the purpose of establishing blighted properties and derelict
<br />buildings as separate classes of property for taxation purposes and providing that blighted
<br />properties shall be taxed at a rate five percent, and derelict buildings taxed at a rate ten
<br />percent, higher than the tax rate applicable to the general class of real property.
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