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May 7~ 1985
<br />
<br />rolled back pursuant to state law while two are being recommended to be modified to permit the
<br />maximum level permitted under the statutes.
<br /> In addition, at the City Council's regularly scheduled meeting on May 14, 1985, at which
<br />final consideration and adoption of the hudget is scheduled to-take place, I shall be recom-
<br />mending several budgetary companion ordinances. There are several other fees and charges for
<br /> outlined in my budget message that will require modifications. These will
<br />
<br />services that I
<br />include the following:
<br />
<br /> a. Senior citizen and disabled tax relief income levels are recommended
<br /> to be raised from $5,000 to $5,500 for thcse eligible for 100% exemption.
<br /> The maximum income level to be eligible for relief is recommended to be
<br /> raised from $10,000 to $10,500. Also, the ceiling on net worth is being
<br /> increased from $35,000 to $36,750.
<br />
<br /> b. Golf fees at Portsmouth Sleepy Hole Golf Course is. recommended to be
<br /> increased by $1.00 on both weekdays and weekends with additional play
<br /> on weekdays increasing by $0.50. In addition, cart rental fees is
<br /> recommended to increase by $1.00. I am also recommending that annual
<br /> membership dues be eliminated and books of tickets be limited to weekday
<br /> use only at a cost $100 for twenty eighteen holes of play. I am further
<br /> recommending that residents of the City of Portsmouth be granted a 20%
<br /> discount in fees at the Portsmouth Sleepy Hole Golf Course. I believe
<br /> this to be an equitable discount for our citizens who have, and continue
<br /> to support the upgrading of this fine facility with their tax dollar.
<br /> It appears just that they recemve a benefit not offered to residents of
<br /> other jurisdictions not making the equivalent sacrifice.
<br />
<br /> c. Water rates, as I recommended in my budget message, will, if adopted by
<br /> the City Council, increase from $1.13 to $1.25 per 1,000 gallons. This
<br /> increase will change the typical residential customer's bill by $0.67
<br /> per month.
<br />
<br /> d. Other utility fees I am recommending modifications to include the water
<br /> tap fees from $250 to ~3?-45 for 3~-inch service and from ~300 ~o ~400
<br /> for 1-inch service. A $150 sewer connection fee which would mncrease
<br /> to $800 where no service is'available is also recommended. In addition,
<br /> .I am recommending a graduated increase in the strong waste collection
<br /> program which is more difficult to treat than the average domestic waste.
<br /> This will amount to an increase from ~3.00 to $6.10 for each cue hundred
<br /> pounds of suspended solids in excess o£ 250 parts per million (now 300
<br /> parts per million) and from $5.00 to $5.75 for s~milar amounts of biochemi-
<br /> cal oxygen demand.
<br /> e. Parking rates in the Central Business District, which are substantially
<br /> below those of other communities, are being recommended to be increased
<br /> by the Parking Authority and the City Council. A Froposed fee schedule
<br /> will be attached for you~ consideration at your May 14, 1985 meeting.
<br />
<br /> f. The FY85 Classification and Pay Plan which establishes the pay ranges and
<br /> classifications of all emFloyees, as well as setting the procedures for
<br /> administering the plan, will be updated to reflect the operating budget
<br /> and its modifications.
<br /> These items outlined in a. through f. above only require one reading by the City Council
<br />in order to be enacted. Therefore, I shall be placing these on the agenda for the May 14,
<br />1985 meeting where final consideration of the whole budget package ms ~o be made. The aFpro-
<br />priations ordinance, as well as the Real [state Tax rate reduction and the Business, Profes-
<br />sional, and Occupations License Tax, do require two reading and should be acted upon by the
<br />Council at the May 7th and May 14th meetings.
<br />
<br /> I am available to the m~mbers of the
<br />budget or those related items. 'Further,
<br />first reading by the City Council."
<br />
<br />The fol~owin~ citizens spoke on the
<br />
<br />Jane L. Majer, 359 Park Manor Road,
<br />
<br />Council to answer any questions you may have on the
<br />I recommend the adoption of the three crdinances on
<br />
<br />proposed Operating Budget for FY 1985-86:
<br />representing Endependence Center, Inc., thanked
<br />
<br />the City Council for hearing their request for additional funding; also thank you for
<br />your interest and concerns for the disabled citizens in Portsmouth, and always willing to
<br />answer any questions you may have.
<br /> Bunice ~. McMillan, 5513 New Colony Drive, Virginia Beach, representing Portsmouth
<br />Bducation Association, expressed appreciation for support in funding the School Board Budget.
<br />
<br /> Rosa Wells, 5632
<br />her appreciation for
<br />
<br /> James L. Butts,
<br />the 12% increase.
<br />
<br /> Angela Bell, 4609 Winston Road, PBA Member,
<br />increase in salary for the teachers will be very
<br />
<br />High Street, representing Portsmouth Education Association, expressed
<br />fu~fd~hB the School Board Budget.
<br />2004 Jefferson Street, representing PEA, expressed his apprecmation for
<br />
<br />spoke concerning the 12% increase and a deceit
<br />helpful to the teachers' moral.
<br />
<br />
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