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<br />Ms. Rosemary Gould, 1551 Chatham Ridge Road, a PAPAS vol unteer, asked
<br />Council to consider the long - term impact of elimination of this program on women
<br />inmates.
<br />
<br />Mr. Jim Simmons, 2520 Smithfield Road, Conductor of the Charlottesville
<br />Municipal Band, requested that Council support tax exempt status for the Band's
<br />building. Mr. Simmons said the Band is one of the few municipal bands in the country
<br />that is supported by taxes.
<br />
<br />Mr. Steve Layman, 2528 Brandermill Place, President of the Charlottesville
<br />Municipal Band, said that the band owns the building, but it is u sed by other community
<br />groups. He asked Council to honor their request for tax exempt status.
<br />
<br />Ms. Julia Jones, 1935 Lewis Mountain Road, President of the Shelter for Help in
<br />Emergency, said that the agency review committee gave SHE a fair rating because they
<br />said there was no significant reduction in domestic violence, but said that only one year
<br />was reviewed. She said that volunteers are the bloodline of their program, and she hopes
<br />they do not have to cut their education budget.
<br />
<br />Ms. Ivy Hinton, 735 Ha mpshire Court, Vice President of SHE, said that she is a
<br />psychologist and clinical researcher, and education is important since people need
<br />constant reminders of what to do in emergency situations. She asked Council to consider
<br />fully funding SHE's request .
<br />
<br />Mr. Blake Hurt, 301 Bache Lane, said that the Drug Court program for non -
<br />violent drug abusers is a far cheaper alternative than jail. He said the $246,000 for the
<br />program has been paid by the State, but is not proposed to be funded this year. He said a
<br />federal matching grant of $136,000 has been secured, and requested $66,000 from the
<br />City.
<br />
<br />Mr. Dave Chapman, Commonwealth's Attorney for the City, said he appreciates
<br />Council's past support of the Drug Court, and said that the savings realized as a resul t of
<br />the program is real. He urged Council to make the investment and support funding.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Michael Gallahue, 1828 Yorktown Drive, encouraged Council to increase the
<br />meals tax to help fund school facility improvements. He also asked Council to consider
<br />creating an endowment for school facilities.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Larry Richards, 1621 Trailridge Road, supported the proposed fee and meals
<br />tax increases. He said each is necessary to pay for needed services.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Bekah Saxon, 913 Blenheim Avenue, President of the Cha rlottesville
<br />Education Association and a teacher at Buford School, said that the increase in the meals
<br />tax is the least burdensome way to fund capital needs for the schools. She said that the
<br />CEA also feels that the Council should hold State representativ es responsible for the
<br />funding situation and require them to fully fund the schools.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Linda Bowen, Chair of the School Board, 716 Palatine Avenue, said that the
<br />School Board hopes that the meals tax proposal is endorsed by Council to help meet
<br />school capital needs.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Diane Price, Government Teacher at Charlottesville High School, and four
<br />High School students, asked Council to support the meals tax increase to help improve
<br />restrooms, heating and cooling systems, sinks in art rooms, painting, locker s, water
<br />fountains, gym floors, bleachers, tennis courts and the mat room.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Eleanor Biasioli, 622 Evergreen Avenue, expressed concern about the shift
<br />away from taxes to pay for basic services. She said trash should still be a basic service
<br />paid by t axes. Ms. Biasioli asked Council to devise a budget that is not dependent on real
<br />estate taxes.
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