According to this article, the Norfolk City Council informally approved the city’s $1.2 billion budget yesterday. As expected, th budget, which goes into effect July 1, does not include a reduction in the real estate tax rate. One change made by council was to increase the income eligibility for the Tax Relief Program for Seniors and Disabled, which I discussed here. The new income limit is $67,000, up from $62,000. That should help a bit.
Other changes made to the budget:
- Pay for sheriff’s deputies by $1,000, in addition to the 3.5 percent general wage increase most employees will receive.
- Pay for city retirees, who will receive a 2 percent increase, double what Williams had recommended.
- Funding for the convention and visitors bureau by $150,000.
- Funding for a program to help lower-income city employees find housing by $100,000.
- Funding for an indigent care program at Eastern Virginia Medical School by $100,000.
- An increase of $500 to the starting pay for police and $695 for firefighters.
All told, the changes add $975,000 to the budget. You can review the budget on the city’s budget website. It will be formally approved May 22.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 