1980-01-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Meeting Approval of Minutes Presentation re: Representatives to the General Assembly COUNCIL CHAMBER - MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1980 The Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Albro, Mr. Brunton, Mr. Buck, Mr. Gatewood and Mrs. O'Brien. Ahsent: None. The minutes of the meetings: of December 3 and December 17, 1979 were approved as presented. Mr, Jim Murray and Mr~ Thomas Michie the City's Representatives in the General Assembly met with the cOuncil on this date to discuss areas of local concern which might be before the General Assembly at this session, The Mayor remarked that we are hopeful the Michie Annexation Bill will be funded this year. Mr. Michie remarked that he had talked with officials in the State Government and was assured that this funding was in the Governor's Budget and he sees no reason why the General Assembly will not approve it. The Mayor also mentioned improvements to the correctional system and also enabling legislation for an area transit tax. Mr. Murray stated that he believes the Governor is going to propose additional funds for additional correctional facilities and asked if the Council had any ideas as to what form the additional funds should take, whether it should be for a maximum security facility or intermediate security facilities, Mr, Gatewood answered that so far as~we're concerned it is not a matter of what type of facility, but whether or not the facility would relieve our local system by removing the state prisoners. The Mayor also mentioned proposals which would cause a loss of revenue to the localities, such as the Merchant's License Tax. He stated it is estimated that Charlottesville would lose $350,000 from this source. Mrs. O'Brien expressed concern about the removal of the utility tax which was discussed at the last session. She stated she did not want.this removed unless there is an alternate source of revenue. Mrs. O'Brien stated she would like to see more emphasis put on funding for mass transportation as opposed to road building. Mr. Gatewood asked the representatives if they think the atmosphere in Richmond will be towards full state funding for mandated programs. Mr. Michie answered that the feeling for the last several years has been against mandating new programs, but he doesn't think the General Assembly will ever get to that point of feeling it should pay 100% of the cost of programs it mandates, because the members feel it is useful to have local dollars involved in any program that is mandated, because that means that the locality has an interest in seeing that the program is conducted economically.