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6 <br />ORDINANCE <br />k. : “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REORDAIN <br /> CHAPTER 15 (MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC) OF THE CODE OF THE <br /> CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, 1990, AS AMENDED, BY DECREASING THE <br /> MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT IN CERTAIN SCHOOL CROSSING ZONES” <br /> (carried over) <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING <br />: ANNUAL TAX RATE <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said that the real estate tax rate and personal property tax rates are <br />proposed to remain the same. He said over 90% of residents will see a decrease or no <br />real estate tax increase. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Charlie Kabbash, 308 E. Market Street, said he owns property on and around <br />the mall and other commercial property. He said assessments this year stayed the same, <br />but increased 9% last year, something he has never understood. He said he is having <br />more residential vacancies longer. He said it seems an unfair balance of power. <br /> <br />nd <br /> Mr. Richard Berman, 205 2 Street, N.W., said his assessment just went up 5% <br />and he has not heard back from his appeal. <br /> <br /> Ms. Colette Hall, 101 Robertson Lane, said a solution needs to be forthcoming <br />regarding revenues for City and County Schools. She said Council is welcome to lower <br />the tax rate. <br /> <br />th <br /> Mr. Kevin Hirst, 13 Street, N.E., said taxes go to fund public education. He said <br />we as a community must pull together in tough times. He said lowering the tax rate is not <br />the thing to do at this time as we would come up short as a community. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said commercial assessments are down an average of 5% and most <br />have gone down. He noted that there is a lag time in assessments. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Dr. Brown, Mr. Brown said that if taxes were <br />proposed to increase there would have been a 30 day notice, but we did not do the notice <br />this year because there was no increase. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING <br />: CITY MANAGER’S PROPOSED FY 2011 BUDGET <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell reviewed highlights of the proposed budget: no tax/fee increases; <br />no service reduction; full support for City Schools, and no staff layoffs. He said State <br />cuts are less than anticipated. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Szakos, Mr. O’Connell said that the living <br />wage will remain the same. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Ms. Elizabeth Brudan, 981 Old Lynchburg Road, a PACEM Board member, said <br />PACEM is a coalition of the faith community that provides shelter for the homeless. She <br />said the ABRT process listed them as a moderate priority. She asked Council to support <br />funding for PACEM. <br /> <br /> Ms. Colleen Keller, 675 Black Cat Road, representing PACEM, said this the first <br />year they have applied for City funding. She said they are seeing an enormous increase <br />in clients over last year. She said their capacity and sustainability were questioned in the <br />ABRT process. She said she hopes Council will reconsider the review. <br /> <br /> Mr. Dick Gibson, 1431 Grove Road, Chairman of JABA, said he appreciates <br />Council’s support over the year. He asked for an increase to replace stimulus money and <br /> <br />