2004-04-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

7 Center; social services (noting that people come to Charlottesville t o receive services); Comprehensive Services Act (an unfunded state mandate); pay for police and fire; and neighborhood development. He said these are services the community has asked for and some are unfunded mandates. He said the schools have a high pov erty concentration. He said the cost for the integrated systems project is $6 million not $12 million. He said he does not feel it would be responsible government to just give the City Manager an amount for the budget. Mr. Schilling noted that Council' s rules for meetings state that Councilors are not to respond to the audience. Ms. Richards said she is persuaded by the results of the recent City survey. She said there were three recurring themes. She said one was complaints about taxes and rising assessments and this is the first time she has seen this level of dissatisfaction. She said it will be necessary for the next Council to reconsider the tax rate and make adjustments. She said we have been champions of quality services but we cannot con tinue to sustain these increases. She said she thinks it would be irresponsible to reduce the rate this year given the state impasse. She said the two other major issues in the survey were the cost of housing and transportation and traffic gridlock. She said she feels the City can help more with affordable housing and could use the contingency fund to do this. Mr. Cox said that the Housing Policy Task Force is looking at how to increase the supply of affordable housing. He said he thinks we can be cre ative and leverage other funds. He suggested reallocating money for the CIP contingency fund to affordable housing initiatives, and supported instructing staff to set that up, starting with $500,000. He said this proposal does not affect the budget as pr oposed. Mr. Caravati suggested using $250,000 for the housing initiative, though he said he continues to object to the use of the word "affordable." He said he would like to provide $2,060 to WVTP as well as to WHTJ, and would like to provide $5,000 for the Historic Resources Task Force because he feels positive results have come from this group. Mr. O'Connell said Council could formally designate the housing fund now or at a later date, and Councilors agreed to wait and hear the Housing Policy Task Fo rce report before taking action on the housing initiative. Mr. Cox said he would like more information on cities that have held to 2.3% increases in their budget as suggested by Mr. Weber. Mr. Cox said he is concerned that as a preferred place to live w e continue to see increases, and questioned what services we can stop providing. He said he would prefer to fund economic development strategic investments rather than cut this fund. Mr. Cox said it is an interesting balance. He said he can see having t he City Manager provide three budget scenarios in the future. Mr. Lynch said he supports the concept of a housing trust fund, but expressed concern about where it is proposed to come from. He said if the contingency fund is needed we will have to come u p with $150,000. Mr. Lynch made a motion to move the budget as presented in the packet, and Mr. Caravati seconded the motion. Mr. Caravati made a motion to amend the budget to provide $2,060 to WVPT and $5,000 to the Historic Resources Task Force. Ms. Richards seconded the motion. Mr. Caravati's amendment was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards. Noes: Mr. Schilling. The "RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE FOR THE FISCA L YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2005 AND PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR," as amended, was offered and carried over to th the April 13 meeting for consideration.