April 5, 2024: Charlottesville's final draft budget based on 20 cent increase in personal property tax rate, but meals tax increase limited to half percentage point
Plus: Funding for the BUCK Squad has been cut by $256,000 with that funding going instead to CRHA, Uhuru Foundation
Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on? Not so much, just about 20 seconds or so today in the portion of Bucks County, Pennsylvania where I am currently located. The epicenter was Lebanon, New Jersey, and the quake measured about 4.8 on the Richter scale. None of this is important to this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement but it was an interesting experience that reminded me of the Virginia quake from August 2011. I’m Sean Tubbs, and for now I’ll spare you further information about plate tectonics.
In today’s installment:
Council makes some final decisions on the FY25 budget including pulling a $12,000 contribution slated for an art museum at the University of Virginia
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is looking for input into a regional economic development plan
The City Market run by the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department begins its season on Saturday
A quick update on procurement in the city of Charlottesville
First shout-out: Community Bikes begin a series of mobile repair clinics this week
In today’s first subscriber-supported shout-out: Charlottesville Community Bikes does a lot to help everyone who wants a pedal-fueled vehicle to get one. They also do a lot of work to help people keep their new bicycles in working condition.
On Monday, a series of mobile repair clinics has its second stop this year begins when a trailer stocked with tools and parts will arrive at the Haven at 10.a.m. for basic repair and to pass out helmets. They’ll be on hand for two hours.
Want to help volunteer for a future clinic? Have a suggestion for one should be held? Visit communitybikes.org to learn more and to find out where future clinics will be!
Funding for BUCK Squad reduced with half going to CRHA, Uhuru Foundation
Council pulls $12,000 in funding for the Fralin Museum of Art
City Council took one more look at the budget for FY2025 last night and agreed on a funding scenario to take into the budget adoption on April 15. That same night there will also be a public hearing on the proposed increase in the
After hearing Council feedback, City Manager Sam Sanders made several changes to allocations made to outside agencies through the Vibrant Communities Fund competitive process. (view presentation)
The BUCK Squad had requested $480,000 for gun violence prevention programs and were recommended for $456,00. That has been revised to $200,000. Another nonprofit that offers similar programs is the Uhuru Foundation, which had requested $100,000 but were not recommended for any funding. They’ll now receive $94,600.
The Charlottesville Redevelopment Housing Authority had requested $137,000 in funding for resident services programs. This was not recommended for funding, but the full amount will now be given after Council input.
Light House Studio requested $36,000 but were only recommended to receive $21,600. They’ll now receive their full request.
Both Councilors Natalie Oschrin and Michael Payne wanted $12,000 in funding for the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia to be removed. City Councilor Lloyd Snook said he did not want to state that Charlottesville should never fund UVA programs but he could support this particular removal.
“Their selling point was that they were going to be able to do some programs that they’re doing and offer free admission to Charlottesville school students or something like, but I’ll just note that part of the argument that they always give to us about why they’re not going to give us any payments in lieu of taxes is all the free things they do for the local community,” Snook said.
Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston said he would support the removal of this $12,000, but hoped that the dialogue about UVA/Charlottesville relations would become proactive rather than being at loggerheads.
“It does feel a little petty to be taking out $12,000 for something that’s a valuable program,” Pinkston said. “On the other hand, maybe it’s what we need to do to sort of make clear that we want some things to change.”
The $12,000 will go to a pool of unallocated funding.
There were also changes to revenue assumptions that yielded an additional $1,344,240 including $800,000 in additional fees for business and professional licenses. That brings the total budget for the FY25 budget to a total of $253,051,091.
The biggest discussion was on the potential increase in the personal property tax rate. An advertisement will be in Saturday’s edition of the three-times a week Daily Progress that will include a personal property tax increase of $4.80 per $100 of assessed value, a sixty cent increase over the current amount. That would generate about $1.8 million in additional revenue according to budget director Krisy Hammill.
Commissioner of Revenue Todd Divers said the city is ready to make the increase having done the calculations and projections. He said every penny increase on the personal property tax rate would bring in an additional $30,238, but that the tax would affect individuals differently depending on the worth of their vehicle.
“If you’ve got a $40,000 car and personal property rate gets increased by 60 cents, you’re going to get an extra $241 you’ve got to pay,” Divers said.
Divers said that people will notice this increase more than a real estate increase because they have to actually write a check rather than let their mortgage company pay it in escrow.
Councilors discussed several scenarios of how to balance the taxes to achieve the amount of revenue they want for spending. City Manager Sam Sanders urged restraint.
“We don’t have to do everything right now, and as I have stated to you, we will back at this conversation next year because collective bargaining is going to continue to cost us,” Sanders said.
Next year, there will be a fourth collective bargaining unit. The cumulative effect on the fiscal budget is about $3 million according to materials that have been presented to Council and the public.
Much of the conversation Thursday was the same as Monday.
Mayor Juandiego Wade was against raising the personal property tax.
Councilor Brian Pinkston was skeptical about proceeding with the personal property tax rate this year.
Councilor Lloyd Snook said he was not sure how he would vote
Councilor Michael Payne repeated that the personal property tax is the most regressive of the four, and said a sales tax referendum for a one cent sales tax increase is “likely” this year though Governor Youngkin has not yet taken action on that legislation.
Councilor Natalie Oschrin said she would like to go higher on the personal property tax rate but understood that community members have not had a chance to weigh in yet given that no public hearing has been held.
On April 15, budget staff will bring a budget balanced on the following revenues:
A two cent increase in the real property tax rate to $0.98 cents per $100 of assessed value. Council can still increase it to $0.99 due to a previous advertisement
A half percent increase in the meals tax rate to 7 percent
A one percent increase in the lodging tax rate to 9 percent
A 20 cent increase in the personal property tax rate to $4.40 per $100 of assessed value. Council still has the option to go to $4.80 per the advertisement in tomorrow’s Daily Progress
This amount will generate an additional amount of money that Council said would be put toward hiring more bus drivers. Exact amounts will be listed next week.
The public hearing for the personal property tax rate will be on April 15. That’s the same day federal tax returns are due.
Public asked to weigh in on regional economic development plan
What is economic development? For many local governments, the process is used to attract more commercial businesses in order to diversify the tax base. Project ENABLE is the name of Albemarle County’s strategic plan for economic development adopted in 2018, and the City of Charlottesville recently updated its plan for the next five years.
For the first time ever, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is putting together its strategic plan known as a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
“The CEDS outlines a strategic vision and actionable goals aimed at fostering economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development within our community,” reads the introduction to the 30-page document.
The TJPDC is asking people to review the document during a federally mandated public comment period that ends on April 27. The idea is to create a regional approach in a community where economic development can be a competitive endeavor. The TJPDC approach is to incorporate concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The public comment period follows one conducted for businesses last fall.
“Respondents indicated that the significant challenges facing them included retaining workers, recruiting workers, and unexpected changes in economic conditions,” reads page 10 of the document. “Businesses responded that they were confident they would see an increase in revenue over the next five years. Fifty percent (50%) of businesses were unsure of who to turn to when they faced challenges.”
If you are unfamiliar with strategic plans, they usually culminate in goals which are to be implemented through various strategies. If a strategy is in a plan, it can be used as a justification for staff to seek funding for programs. The document also lays out what groups are planning to collaborate on specific items.
For instance, Goal 1 is to “Support economic growth within existing industries while leveraging emerging market opportunities to expand economic potential in the region.”
Under that there is Strategy 1A: “Advance the region’s leading industries and seek opportunities to fill unique niches in the regional economy.”
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy then has actions. Action 1.A.1 is to “Coordinate business development initiatives across North Fork UVA Discovery Park, Greene County, Rivanna Station (Albemarle County).”
The University of Virginia Foundation owns the North Fork Park and partners are to include the two localities, the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce, Piedmont Virginia Community College, and UVA itself.
What do you see in the document? I’m interested to know what you think, but your input will help inform the finished product. If you want to understand what the business sector is doing, you’ll want to read through the goals, strategies, and actions. There’s a form to comment.
Sponsored message: Buy Local
From Crozet to Barracks Road, the Downtown Mall to the Shops at Stonefield, and everywhere in between, Albemarle County and Charlottesville’s Offices of Economic Development encourage you to Buy Local as spring approaches.
Buying locally supports our neighbors and community members and makes a big impact for our local economy. Local businesses are more likely to reinvest in our community and their goods and services contribute to the unique character of our community.
Learn more about how you can support local business at ShowLocalLove.org and on social media:
Charlottesville City Market to open for 2024 season
The 51st season of Charlottesville’s City Market begins this Saturday once again on a surface lot owned by the Charlottesville Parking Center.
“Explore a variety of fresh seasonal fruits, veggies, locally raised meats, handmade crafts, homemade baked goods, and authentic cultural foods from local small businesses,” reads a press release put out by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
There are 120 stalls and 80 will be on hand tomorrow, according to City Market Manager Justin McKenzie.
Many vendors take Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments and the City Market participates in a program called Virginia Fresh Match which doubles the value of purchases. Customers using SNAP can match up to $50 each visit.
Market hours run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The IX Art Park also has a Farmers Market run by the group Market Central which for many years worked with the Park and Recreation Department to enhance the City Market.
In 2018, the Market Central launched a winter market that has gradually been extended to operate year-round. This Saturday hours will be 8 a.m. to noon.
Charlottesville bid updates: New company hired to manage city’s parking lots
SP Plus Corporation of Washington D.C. has been awarded the contract to manage the city’s parking facilities. That company was just acquired by Metropolis Technologies as you can learn from this press release. (read the award)
Martin Horn has been awarded the contract to replace a suite of bathrooms at Charlottesville High School (read the award)
Charlottesville is also seeking firms to mow and trim vegetation on city-owned trails. Bids are due on April 9, 2024. (bid package)
There is also a bid to replace two gas powered generators at Charlottesville High School. That bid closes on April 10, 2024. (learn more)
Charlottesville also seeks firms to “provide passenger, light truck, and police pursuit tires and related services on an as-needed basis.” That closes on April 16, 2024. (learn more)
The city is seeking proposals for a firm to handle “transfer and disposal of Municipal Solid Waste and Construction and Demolition Debris generated by City Programs and City Departments.” Bids were due on April 2, 2024. (learn more)
Another bid that closed on April 2, 2024 is one seeking custodial services for the Parks and Recreation Department. (learn more)
Reading material:
Youngkin signs homemade food bill inspired by ‘kingpin of cake pops’, Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury, March 25, 2024
New Student BOV Representative Has Been a Leader Since Arriving on Grounds, Mike Mather, UVA Today, March 26, 2024
New 7 Day Junior location opens on West Main Street, Priya Kommu, Cavalier Daily, March 26, 2024
Then and Now: Looking at Shannon Library, Pre- and Post-Renovation, Molly Minturn, UVA Today, March 27, 2024
Youngkin administration reviews race, DEI syllabi for VCU, George Mason courses, Nathaniel Cline, March 28, 2024
President Jim Ryan to meet graduate students and address payment concerns, Thomas Baxter, Cavalier Daily, March 28, 2024
Officials say recent fires add another reason emergency road is needed, Felicity Taylor, CBS19,
UVa to host grand opening of renamed Shannon Library Thursday, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), April 4, 2024
#659, the moose sank brine
That’s not the way the song goes, I know. But I always try to do a little wordplay somewhere within the body of the newsletter. There’s a template to all of this that keeps me churning out newsletters as fast as I can. Since decoupling the audio, I’ve become much more interested in attempting to get something out every day. Especially when there appears to be material that affects people that is not at the moment being written by others.
I didn’t publish yesterday, but I didn’t take the day off, either. To keep track of my publication schedule, make sure you’re following my Substack Notes account.
And if you’d like this work to keep going, do consider signing up for a paid subscription on Substack. Ting will match your initial payment. That’s mighty generous of them, but I think they also recognize the important of writing out what’s happening.
I’m so grateful for this sponsorship. Need high speed Internet? If you sign up for service and enter the promo code COMMUNITY you’re going to get:
Free installation
A second month for free
A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall
