City of Virginia Beach 2015-16 Proposed Budget & CIP
On March 24, City Manager James K. Spore proposed a $1.87 billion operating budget for fiscal 2015-16. After reviewing the proposed operating budget and the six-year capital improvement program, please provide your suggestions to the following questions:
What suggestions do you have for the operating budget?
Avoid Light Rail (express buses make more sense) & Arena. Also the people of Virginia Beach have NOT approved Light Rail construction. Transition Sewer & Water fees to Property Taxes over time.
Which revenues would you adjust – up or down?
Property Taxes and reduce Sewer & Water Fees. Your increases in Fees have had the same effect as a seven cent increase in my property taxes. These fees should be included in my Taxes as City Services.
If you adjust revenues, which expenses would you change to balance it – up or down?
Increase taxes to pay for pay raises for Teachers and Police. Reduce funding for business partnerships that if they were really worth investing in, businesses would fund on their own. Sound city structure that includes schools and transportation will attract growth.
What suggestions do you have for the 6-year capital plan?
Focus on providing city services and facilitating, but not funding business growth. Also focus on Regional Growth. Building an Arena to compete with other local communities is not taking a regional approach. Nor is failing to build a road out of spite. The six-year plan needs to address movement to and FROM Virginia Beach.
What projects would you add?
Focus on schools, transportation. The Southeastern Expressway we need another exit from Virginia Beach.
Which projects would you remove?
Light Rail & Arena.
Virtual Town Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Virtual Town Hall is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.
Translate
What suggestions do you have for the operating budget?
Avoid Light Rail (express buses make more sense) & Arena. Also the people of Virginia Beach have NOT approved Light Rail construction. Transition Sewer & Water fees to Property Taxes over time.Which revenues would you adjust – up or down?
Property Taxes and reduce Sewer & Water Fees. Your increases in Fees have had the same effect as a seven cent increase in my property taxes. These fees should be included in my Taxes as City Services.If you adjust revenues, which expenses would you change to balance it – up or down?
Increase taxes to pay for pay raises for Teachers and Police. Reduce funding for business partnerships that if they were really worth investing in, businesses would fund on their own. Sound city structure that includes schools and transportation will attract growth.What suggestions do you have for the 6-year capital plan?
Focus on providing city services and facilitating, but not funding business growth. Also focus on Regional Growth. Building an Arena to compete with other local communities is not taking a regional approach. Nor is failing to build a road out of spite. The six-year plan needs to address movement to and FROM Virginia Beach.What projects would you add?
Focus on schools, transportation. The Southeastern Expressway we need another exit from Virginia Beach.Which projects would you remove?
Light Rail & Arena.