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<br /> Mr. Cox reviewed the revisions made to the budget at Council's work session:
<br />increase trans ient lodging tax by 1% ($300,000); charge $25 for large item pickup
<br />($50,000); and reduce the increase for E - 911 tax to $1.50 ($367,000). Expenditure
<br />reductions in the capital improvement budget include: undergrounding utilities (46%);
<br />economic developme nt initiatives ($15%), landscape beautification (24%); McIntire Park
<br />(38%); and elimination of bus route 12 ($86,000). Expenditure additions include:
<br />increasing asset limit for tax real program to $125,000 ($45,000); increasing minimum
<br />wage to $9 ($137,0 00), fund Quality Community Council ($10,000); Computers 4 Kids
<br />($10,000 increase); Charlottesville Center for Contemporary Arts ($10,000 increase);
<br />Drug Court ($31,375); Free Clinic ($5,000 increase); and Municipal Band ($4,000
<br />increase). Mr. Cox said th at a reserve of $81,008 remains.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Richards said we have to be mindful that the state currently has no budget
<br />and this impacts our budget as well as many agencies, U. Va. and PVCC. She said we
<br />are essentially guessing about what state funding will be. She said that many services
<br />now funded by the City used to be the state's responsibility, including education, social
<br />services, public safety, sheriff's office, jail, and road maintenance, amounting to $6
<br />million over five years. Ms. Richards said the C ity's bond rating is at risk if the state
<br />loses its AAA bond rating which will affect the interest on bonds.
<br />
<br /> The public hearing was opened.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Michael Gallahue, 1828 Yorktown Drive, said that $6.6 million has been
<br />requested for renovations at Charlott esville High School. He said this is the first work
<br />done at the school other than maintenance, a new roof and chillers since it was built. He
<br />said the renovations include adding eight new classrooms within the building, expanding
<br />the cafeteria, relocatin g administrative offices which will allow them to be centralized
<br />and will control public access and provide better security. Reconstruction of the tennis
<br />courts is also included. Mr. Gallahue said this is a no frills list.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Erin Tapscott, 1401 Grady Avenue, an intern at the Virginia Organizing
<br />Project, commended Council for raising the living wage to $9. She asked that Council
<br />exercise influence over U. Va. and other employers as well.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Tassie Pippert, representing WVPT Public Television, said WVPT has been
<br />serving Charlottesville since 1968 and offers many community programs as well as
<br />instructional programs for City Schools.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Brenda Lambert, 301 Monte Vista Avenue, asked that Council adopt a $9
<br />minimum wage for City employees and contrac t workers. She asked that the wage be
<br />adjusted annually. She said the City should set an example for other employers. She said
<br />she supports using taxes to support the increase.
<br />
<br /> Mr. John Pfaltz, 1503 Rugby Road, said he wanted to comment on the bipolar
<br />approach to the way the budget is created. He said it is good to fund a living wage, but
<br />we should not say we are keeping the property tax rate high because the state will not be
<br />sending us $3 million. Then he said he heard about the proposal to pay $12 million for
<br />an outdated integrated system when other communities are paying $1 million. He asked
<br />why we are spending this when we are in a dire financial situation. He suggested using
<br />the $11 excess to fund employee raises. He said Council should follo w Mr. Schilling's
<br />suggestion and decide the overall budget growth relative to the cost of living increase and
<br />then direct staff to draft a budget within these limits.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Margaret Crawford, 744 F Prospect Avenue, representing the Quality
<br />Community Counci l (QCC), said that Council challenged QCC to become independent
<br />and they have met that challenge and have become an independent non - profit and have
<br />raised $85,000. She expressed appreciation for Council providing $10,000 for QCC.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Anita Thompson Heis terman, a nurse from U. Va. who works with JABA,
<br />supported increased funding for JABA because JABA is unable to fund insurance fees,
<br />medical and program supplies, and a 2% salary increase.
<br />
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