Charlottesville City Council members discussed their hopes to improve district schools and make housing more affordable in the coming year following the recent budget approval.
The Council approved a 2007-08 fiscal budget of about $122 million April 10, which includes $4.3 million allocated for improvements to Charlottesville City Schools.
Council member David Norris said the school system has experienced high turnover in superintendents recently and noted that the Council wants to assist academic programs implemented by Rosa S. Atkins, who was named superintendent in February.
Norris added that Council feels Atkins "is doing a good job."
Mayor David E. Brown said the increase for funding in schools will also help Charlottesville schools remain competitive in the area. The city is a major source of school funding, according to Brown, and helps schools provide competitive teacher salaries.
"They don't want to fall behind regionally what we pay our teachers," Brown said.
Additional funding from the city's budget will go toward programs aimed at keeping students in school, Brown said.
"There are a number of programs and a big initiative within the high schools with a team effort to identify both ... kids who are at risk of dropping out and kids on the borderline of going to college," Brown added.
The budget will also provide for improvements in public safety.
Though Norris said the allocation for public safety would concentrate on renovating police and fire stations, Vice-Mayor Kendra Hamilton said there are not yet any specific plans established.
After the public raised many concerns, the Council voted on a final real estate tax of 95 cents for every $100. Brown said this four-cent decrease in the tax was the most "direct" way to address the city's affordable housing issue.
According to Brown, Charlottesville residents have endured increases in real estate assessments and tax bills. With the new real estate tax, the Council will "partially offset" the city's 14 percent property assessment increase.
In addition to re-examining property taxes, Norris said Charlottesville has begun numerous efforts to address affordable housing issues. Programs that will be implemented include rebate tax programs for the elderly and city aid to help residents buy a house without struggling to pay real estate taxes, Norris said.
Budget funds will also be appropriated to implement Sunday transit service for the city.
According to Norris, the Council adopted a transit development plan that will look to add more resources to improve public transportation over the coming years.
These new resources will include the Green City Initiative. Norris said, this Green City program will promote environmental sustainability.
"This council is very committed to seeing us practice environmental sustainability both within city governments and within the broader community," he said.
The budget also includes funding to build more sidewalks, hiking trails and bicycle paths to encourage alternative transportation in the city.
The budget will go into effect July 1.
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