Charlottesville City Council held a special budget hearing during its bimonthly meeting yesterday to address the public's concerns with the proposed budget initiatives for 2008. Disagreement surrounded a proposed increase in real estate tax rates for Charlottesville and its effects on residents.
The proposed budget includes goals to be reached in Charlottesville by 2025. At that time, Council hopes to have created "economic sustainability and quality housing opportunities for all," City Manager Gary O'Connell said.
Included in the budget initiative is a tax rate increase in which the real estate property tax will be increased by 99 cents per property assessed. Many residents feel that the proposed tax initiative will not benefit the majority of Charlottesville residents
This real estate property tax increase is a component of Council's long-term tax relief program which proponents hope will generate future benefits for Charlottesville residents.
Although Vice Mayor Kendra Hamilton and Council member Dave Norris agreed that expanding the current Charlottesville tax relief program would help accomplish long-term goals, some community members felt that Council was not doing enough to rectify the current income disparity.
"The rising tax assessments are driving the middle class families, the backbone of Charlottesville, out of the city," said Charlottesville resident Colette Hall.
O'Connell emphasized the beneficial effects the proposals will have on the community.
"Budgets are all about dollars, but in a way they are about what the community's values are," O'Connell said. "It's about where [the people] want to see the government's dollars go to provide better services for all residents."
Other initiatives proposed in the budget are to provide public transportation services for the entire city on Sundays and to increase funding for local Emergency Medical Services.
O'Connell said the extra funding would go towards adding full-time staff members and ambulances to the EMS work force.
A second public forum regarding the proposed budget will be held April 2 with the final reading and adoption meeting to be held April 10.
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