City Manager Gary O’Connell presented the proposed City of Charlottesville budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year to community members and City Council last night. The total operating budget amounted to $127,085,950, a .23 percent decrease from this past year’s budget, O’Connell said, noting that the budget did not call for tax rate increases and cuts in programs or services.
The City Manager’s office thought it was important to look at the budget during a three-year period, O’Connell said.
“We’ve got concerns about what’s happening in the economy and by looking over three years we can try to address a good number of the issues,” he noted.
Though the City Manager’s Office wanted to look ahead with the budget, O’Connell said the new budget is only sustainable for about five years and after that, the City could run into issues.
“We’re clearly heading into the worst of times,” O’Connell said, adding that he was not expecting any improvements in the economy during the next few years.
O’Connell said the City will reduce costs by cutting 14 full-time City worker positions to save $700,000. It also will not allow for pay increases for City workers, which will save $1.3 million.
Several community members found the City’s Web site’s information about City worker pay increases confusing, a difficulty Council member David Brown acknowledged. He clarified that “there is no money set aside for salary increases” during the upcoming year.
Instead, the council will focus its spending on three initiatives: affordable housing, a storm-water program and a home energy conservation program. Furthermore, O’Connell said the proposed budget includes a $509,681 increase for City schools.
Although the tax rate did not increase, James Moore, a representative from the Charlottesville Tax Payers Association, challenged the City to cut spending by 5 percent to reduce taxes.
Several community members echoed this sentiment, asking that a $2.8 million economic downturn fund instead be used for a tax reduction.
Mayor Dave Norris said the Council and Charlottesville community members will continue to discuss the City’s budget during the next month until its final adoption April 14.
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