Would you be willing to absorb slightly higher taxes or fees to help your top priorities?

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

I would rather that spending, and therefore taxes, would go down.

For example, I went to the 4th Precinct CAC meeting last night. Why are we spending money on a full time person, with police support, to enhance volunteerism and social programs? We are in a budget crisis. These kinds of programs are nice to have, but not necessary. We should cancel all those kinds of programs and concentrate on safety and security.

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

It's funny that it states "your top priorities" My top priorities have been bypassed many years in a row. The major problem is the cities priorities do not match their residents priorities. so the easy answer is "No".

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

You want to raise taxes AGAIN!?!?!?!? Stop wasting money, close that assinine police horse stable in Pungo. Sell it, use the proceeds and the resulting tax revenus to fund the projects. NO MORE NEW TAXES!

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

For the most part I think that the city of VA Beach does an excellent job of managing its finances (AAA Bond Rating). As mentioned, short falls from State and Federal government has necessitated the reprioritize of funding. Until some of the costs savings recommendations mentioned below, are scrubbed, and the city has made every effort to look for ways to freeze spending and leverage efficiencies, it is not fair for its citizens to have (some) services cut, or ask for another tax increase.
Examples of costs savings; all out of state travel by city employees should be halted unless vetted by the city manager with a significant justification showing demonstrated cost savings. The city spends $2 million per year on reimbursable travel [1] emphasis should be placed on utilizing existing telcon or teleconferencing capabilities within the city. City employee promotions should be frozen for one year. Department head raises should be tied to performance matrix established by council in lieu of the city manager. One part of Department Head performance should be tied to managing their respective budgets and demonstrated cost savings. Departments should be incentivized, and empowered to use surplus funds to attend to needs within their own departments. Department heads should notify the council via the city manager prior to spending more than 25 % of their budget (time expended). In FY-11 the city spent 27 million for consultants [2] that should either be scaled, back or terminated. The city has a $206K car allowance [3] for its department heads that could be eliminated, or scaled back. The city needs to discontinue $250K contribution to the Virginia Arts Festival [4]. The city could save millions by doing away with the Agricultural Reserve program [5]. The city needs to put adequate controls on the VB EDA that has spent upwards of 1.1 million [6] for an arena project that was not fully vetted by the entire city council, and was at best deemed “premature.” The city EDA needs to seek better return on investment, revenue streams, rather than what may be popular with some on council or the mayor’s personal agenda. The city should mandate that all future funding for matters like the proposed arena and infrastructure be financed only by Revenue Bonds [7]. The city needs to divest itself from future public private partnerships that have the city paying, more than 25% of the total costs of venture. The city should not sanction the EDA spending 1.1 million dollars (we are in a shortfall) to let the NBA or others know we are desperate for a NBA team (we have already shown our hand). The Centerville sustainment project is an excellent example of public/private partnership. The Dome site initiative looks very encouraging without putting the taxpayers at significant risk. Millions could be saved if the city would eliminate the process of diverting general funds (picking winners) for future development, and adhere to the Virginia Code §58.1-3245 [8] with regards to what legal term of TIF is categorized as (blighted area). The city needs to recognize its employees as valuable assets, and leverage their expertise in this process and provide incentives for significant costs savings and include them in the city’s sustainment plan. The city needs to restore transparency in government to its employees [9], and to the citizens of VA Beach [10]. The Town Hall venue is a nice 1st step to regaining trust and achieving buy in from its citizens.

References:
[1] http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/budget-office-management-services/budget-archives/Lists/FAQs/Attachments/26/026-question.pdf

[2] http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/budget-office-management-services/budget-archives/Lists/FAQs/Attachments/98/98.pdf

[3] http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/budget-office-management-services/budget-archives/Lists/FAQs/Attachments/25/025-question.pdf

[4] http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/budget-office-management-services/budget-archives/Lists/FAQs/Attachments/133/133.pdf

[5] http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/budget-office-management-services/budget-archives/Lists/FAQs/Attachments/126/126.pdf

[6] http://www.yesvirginiabeach.com/news-publications/Documents/Arena%20QA%2012-28-12.pdf

[7] http://news.morningstar.com/classroom2/course.asp?docid=5394&page=2

[8] http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?941+ful+HB1126ER+pdf

[9] http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/some-va-beach-workers-see-rise-salaries

[10] http://hamptonroads.com/2012/08/beach-attorney-arena-votes-shouldve-been-public

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

I would rather pay directly for the services I want or need, and for the charities I participate in.

I am willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

I am willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

We expect services but don't want to pay for them... It's simple, money in vs. money out. I personally have no problem paying for the service I expect and demand from my city. Up our taxes, pay for our projects, and pay our people a fair wage.

I would not be willing to accept slightly higher taxes or fees.

If and when the economy strengthens then we can discuss increasing taxes to citizens, but under this economy CUT the budget. The city leaders always find large bundles of cash to put down on big headline projects. Skyscrapers, light rail, colliseums, anything else that would add population to this region. How many people do you wish to pack into a small piece of land? We only need to take care of what we have currently built. Our police, fire and EMS employees are under paid, our neighborhoods are showing their age, and yet all we hear about are the prize projects. The city manager, and department managers make too much. Take pay cuts increase the pay of the "real" employees, and stop trying to build us into bankruptcy.