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May 5, ~984
<br />
<br /> At a Public Hearing of the Portsmouth City Council held on Thursday, May 3, 1984, at
<br />7:00 p.m. in the T. A. Willett Auditorium of the Woodrow Wilson High School, the following
<br />were present:
<br />
<br /> J. E. Johansen, Jack P. Barnes, Ben A. Beamer, Sr., J. Robert Gray, James W.
<br /> Holley, III, Gloria O. Webb, Morton V. Whitlow, George L. Hanbury, City Manager,
<br /> Steven Lieberman, City Attorney.
<br />
<br /> Rev. Damon E. Wyatt, Pastor Of SWeethaven Baptist Church, opened the Public Hearing With
<br />prayer, folloWed by the Pledge of Allegiance to ~e Flag.
<br />
<br />Mayor Johansen welcomed all visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br /> 84-148 - Public Hearing on City Operating Budget, General Revenue Sharing Budget, and
<br /> proposed Real Estate Tax Rate for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1985:
<br /> The following lette~ on the Budget from the City Manager was submitted:
<br />
<br /> "In accordance with Article V of the Charter of the City of Portsmouth, I hereby submi't
<br />the proposed Annual Operating Budget f~r fiscal year 1984-85. This budget, as submitted, does
<br />not include an increase in any tax rate or in the water and sewer rates, or, in any other majo~
<br />user fee or service charge.
<br />
<br />BUDGET IN BRIEF
<br />
<br />1983-84 1984-85 Percent
<br />Budget Recommended Change
<br />
<br />Summary of Funding Sources
<br />
<br />From the Commonwealth
<br />General Property Taxes
<br />Other Local Taxes
<br />Other Local Sources, etc.
<br />From Federal Government
<br />Fund Balance
<br />
<br />$34
<br /> 26
<br /> 12
<br /> l0
<br /> 2
<br /> 3
<br />
<br />326 431
<br />748 500
<br />371 659
<br />727 191
<br />304 138
<br />861 937
<br />
<br />$38,324,907 11.65%
<br />28,825,000 7.76
<br />13,464,105 8.83
<br />11,574,767 7.90
<br />2,542,551 10.35
<br />4,445,154 15.10
<br />
<br />Totals
<br />
<br />$90,339,856
<br />
<br />$49,053,156
<br />41,286,700
<br />
<br />$99,174,484 9.78%
<br />
<br />$53,002,389 8[05%
<br />46,172,095 11.83
<br />
<br />$99,174,484 9.78%
<br />
<br />Appropriations Summary
<br />
<br />General Government Operations
<br />School Operations
<br />
<br />Totals
<br />
<br />$90,339,856
<br />
<br /> City Council's positive budgetary action last year, as well as instruction to me to reduc
<br />positions and exercise cost saving measures, made it possible for me to present this budget
<br />as proposed. Additionally, this proposed budget recognizes the commitment that City Council
<br />has given to education and is indicative of the efforts which are being made in order to con-
<br />tinue with the quality education program proposed by the School Board. During the last few
<br />days we received approximately $425,000 in State Funds that were 'discovered' throngh an error
<br />in State calculation. It would have been difficult to recommend full funding of the proposed
<br />School Board Budget had we not received these funds.
<br />
<br /> Cost estimates have been prepared based upon the following goals and objectives of the
<br />City Council:
<br />
<br />(1) deliver the most responsive and efficient services possible to the citizenry,
<br />
<br />(2) reduce every expense possible while attempting to regain Portsmouth's economic
<br /> vitality in the region,
<br />
<br />(3) continue the economic expansion of Portsmouth's tax base,
<br />
<br />(4) compensate employees (city, school board, and constitutional officers) with
<br /> a salary commensurate to the labor and talent they bring to public service.
<br />
<br /> It has been a busy and productive year. PORTSIDE, the Enterprise Zone, new housing down-
<br />town revitalization through the Priority Action Program and urban renewal efforts, the Ports-
<br />mouth Partnership and much more has been started which will aid tremendously in the accomplish
<br />ment of the stated goals. Such efforts will also create a solid foundation to develop growth
<br />patterns for the future.
<br />
<br /> The Real Estate Assessor has informed me that the evaluation of properties increased by
<br />approximately 6.6% over last year. Most of the Tidewater communities have experie.nced in-
<br />creases of a similar nature. Growth, however, fluctuates far differently. For instance,
<br />Portsmouth had thirteen (13) million dollars of taxable new construction during 1983 or ap-
<br />proximately 1%, Other Tidewater communities have experienced the increases in growth for 198!
<br />as follows:
<br />
<br />
<br />
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