2007-04-02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 Mr. Bob Messlyo, 1704 Owensville Road, supported funding for First Night Virginia. Mr. John Pfaltz, 1503 Rugby Road, said higher taxes are due to higher spending, and said this is the largest spending increase in the history of the City. He said if we had better stewards of the budget taxes would be much lower. He said there is no need for a rate exceeding 90 cents. Mr. Jeffrey Rossman, 1843 Edgewood Lane, wondered if the budget process is broken, and asked why the budget proposal did not include a tax rate reduction. He said the budget should be needs based, and just because we have the resources we do not have to spend them. He said Mr. Lynch has made a modest proposal for a 4 cent reduction. Mr. Charo Mina-Rojas, 1421 Briarcliff Avenue, supported funding for Zona Latina. She said it was very difficult for her to get information in Spanish when she first moved here. Ms. Katrina Salmons, 212 Greenbrier Drive, said that Jefferson Area Board for Aging helps people stay in their homes and provides great services and programs. She said a 3% increase in adult day care services is being requested, and asked that the program be fully funded. Mr. Benjamin Van Dyne, a University of Virginia student and organizer with the Living Wage Campaign, thanked Council for its commitment to the living wage. He said it demonstrates a real concern for economic fairness. He asked that Council not cut the living wage proposal to fund a tax rate reduction. He said he also supports the affordable housing proposals. He encouraged Councilors to urge the University to also adopt a living wage. Several people in the audience stood in support of Mr. Van Dyne’s comments. Mr. Charles Weber, 601 Locust Avenue, referred to “truth in taxation,” and asked Councilors to be candid in their role about the ever increasing tax burden. He referred to the State law and a memorandum by the City Attorney. He also showed a chart of tax increases. He said it is legally incorrect to say Council is cutting the tax rate. He said Council has not demonstrated the need for a tax increase. He said Council never adjusted their guidance to the City Manager to maintain the current tax rate. Ms. Joy Johnson, 823-D Hardy Drive, presented a petition from the Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) in support of the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Improvement Program (CAHIP). st Ms. Tina Washington, 500 South 1 Street, an intern with PHAR, said there are 62 signatures on the petition in support of CAHIP. Mr. Kevin Simowitz, 204 Robertson Avenue, a University of Virginia student and member of the Living Wage Campaign, thanked Council for showing a lot of leadership. Mr. David Repass, 227 E. Jefferson Street, asked when we are going to get the people’s budget. He said luxuries remain in the budget. He said people feel they are ignored in the process. He expressed concern with the EMS proposal. He said that in the future Council and the City Manager must work together early to build a budget after the public gets a chance to weigh in. He said the 2 cent reduction does not address concern about the tax burden. He said transportation is not seriously addressed in the budget. Mr. Jim Heetderks, 1624 Amherst Street, said there is continued ongoing increase in taxes and the budget which he thinks is unreasonable and unsustainable. He said help is only provided to those on the lower end. He said he served on the Rescue Squad for seven years and was offended when he read that no one had spoken with Larry Claytor about the EMS proposal. He said a huge amount of effort and training is done by volunteers. He said the $1 million should be taken out as the City does not even know how to spend it. He said the proposal appears to be undermining CARS and is not a good approach to the problem.