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VIRGINIA BEACH — Around 75 people turned out for a public hearing on the city’s proposed fiscal year 2023-24 budget and capital improvement program Wednesday at the Convention Center. It was the first of two meetings where residents can try to bend the ear of the City Council about how their tax dollars will be spent.
Council members will vote on the proposed $2.5 billion operating budget May 9.
Slashing taxes was one of the top subjects, although none of the speakers talked specifically about the budget’s proposed increases to the water, sewer and trash fees. Several people asked the City Council to find a way to give residents a break, especially in light of the rise in real estate assessments.
“The citizens of Virginia Beach need tax relief,” said John Watt, a Navy veteran and member of the Virginia Beach Tea Party. “You represent us, and I urge you to take a long, hard look at the proposed city budget, and cut out everything that is not a required function of the city.”
The city’s real estate tax rate is 99 cents per $100 of assessed value, and is anticipated to generate $755 million in tax revenue for the city. The proposed budget would keep the rate the same, though the council is weighing potential reductions to the tax rate.
About two dozen teachers attended Wednesday’s public comment session. Many of them wore matching blue Virginia Beach Education Association T-shirts. They want the school budget request of more than $930 million, which includes raises for division employees, to be fully funded.
The budget proposal fully funds the school’s request. But the City Council has asked the School Board to look at reductions that can be made should the city decide to lower the real estate tax rate, which is the lowest in the region.
Kathleen Slinde, president of the teacher’s association, said the school budget as it stands could keep employees in Virginia Beach and attract new ones.
“We cannot expect employees to stay where their compensation isn’t enough to live in the city they work in,” she said. “This year’s School Board budget finally starts to address this need in a meaningful, long-term way.”
Teachers would have a 1.5% bump in salary each time they advance a step and bus drivers and cafeteria assistants would move up the pay grades to get closer to the $15 an hour state minimum wage requirement by 2026, under the proposed school budget.
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The City Council will announce changes to the budget May 2.
A contingency of Seatack community members also attended the hearing. “Equity for Seatack” was the theme of their comments as residents said they want improvements to the neighborhood recreation center — which is the smallest in the city — and to Seatack Park, on Birdneck Road.
“We deserve the same amenities that everyone else has in the city,” said Tammie Mullins-Rice, president of the Seatack Community Civic League.
Three widows of military members asked council members to pass a law as part of the budget to lower the real estate tax rate for surviving spouses of military service members who died in the line of duty.
The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation last year that expanded the current real estate tax exemption available to surviving spouses of soldiers “killed in action,” as determined by the U.S. Department of Defense, to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died “in the line of duty.” Virginia Beach could choose to enact such relief.
The last public budget hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. To see the proposed budget and comment online, visit https://budget.virginiabeach.gov/city-budget/proposed-budget.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com