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I7 <br /> <br />Council has nothing to do with assessments. Mr. Fife stated <br />that he felt the long-range solution would be to institute a <br />local income tax which Would be far more equitable than <br />property taxes. Mro Fife stated that Charlottesville is a <br />beautiful, humane city, and he is proud of the City and its <br />local government. Mr. Fife noted that if more people <br />supported the United Way City funding for social agencies <br />could possibly be reduced and as a result the City might be <br />able to reduce taxes. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Houchens~ 908 Druid Avenue, expressed concern <br />about assessments. He requested that Council investigate <br />having the General Assembly approve the Homestead Act which <br />would freeze taxes for people over 65 or otherwise come up <br />with a program to take the tax burden off senior citizens. <br /> <br /> Mr. Rudy Beverly, Manager of Lucky 7 Food Store on the <br />Corner, expressed concern about the proposed cigarette tax <br />and stated that retail stores in the City could lose general <br />sales and the tax could be spread to other items which would <br />be a regressive tax. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peggy Van Yahres, 1700 Chesapeake St., a member of <br />the Board of Architectural Review, asked Council to cOnsider <br />a modest appropriation to enable the Historic Preservation <br />Plan to go forward. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tom Hill, 1207 Rugby Road, stated that tax <br />assessments are pushing people out of their homes. Mr. Hill <br />proposed that the City ManagerJs salary be cut and increased <br />substantially if he is able to cut the property tax by 10%. <br />Mr. Hill questioned why more is budgeted than needed for the <br />trash fund~ asked why the City is expanding gas lines in the <br />county if no one knows if expansion makes mOney; opposed <br />purchasing new buses; and expressed concern about the <br />proposed cigarette tax~ noting that if the City's financial <br />problems are a result of reduced sales taxes Council should <br />not do something which could further reduce sales in the <br />City. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hazel Marshall agreed with all previous speakers, <br />comments about property assessments and stated that she has <br />ideas about ways to cut the City budget. <br /> <br /> Ms. June Russell, an Albemarle County resident, <br />supported the proposed cigarette tax. <br /> <br /> Mr. Fulton Deane, 821 Altavista Avenue, stated that he <br />did not agree with Mr. Fife's comments about assessments, <br />opposed hiring an outside consultant, and criticized the <br />Mayor for not keeping campaign promises to meet with Belmont <br />residents. <br /> <br /> Responding to criticism of the City Manager about the <br />funding for a consultant in the budget, Ms. Slaughter stated <br />that the $50,000 for an outside study of the City had been <br />included in the budget by her, not by the City Manager. <br /> <br /> Mr. Charles Lilly, Belmont resident, criticized the City <br />Hall renovations, expressed concern about assessments, and <br />stated that City government should be cut back. <br /> <br /> Ms. Laura Parmenter, 1506 E. Market St., expressed <br />concern about assessments and felt that the Council needs to <br />say no to requests for additional funding. Ms. Parmenter <br />opposed the proposed cigarette tax and said that she will go <br />to Albemarle County to buy cigarettes. Ms. Parmenter also <br />expressed concern that funding for the police officer at <br />Charlottesville High School was not included in the budget. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mae Dickerson, Goodman Street, expressed concern <br />about assessments. <br /> <br /> <br />