[Archived] Council Holds Work Session on Proposed FY 2007 Budget, Budget Public Hearing on March 13, 2006

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	March 8, 2006 PIO# 063-06/sjm	Steven J. Mason, Public Information Officer, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

COUNCIL HOLDS WORK SESSIONS ON PROPOSED FY 2007 BUDGET
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 13, 2006

As part of the new budget process adopted by City Council, the proposed FY 2007 Proposed budget is being reviewed and analyzed in detail by Council in a series of eight work sessions. The Council is holding added work sessions, so that it has additional information to determine the appropriate budget level and tax rates. In addition to the $503.5 million proposed budget, Council also is considering a $5.9 million list of FY 2007 options to reduce the FY 2007 budget.

BUDGET HEARING: The City Council’s annual budget hearing will be held on Monday, March 13, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall (301 King Street). Please contact the City Clerk at (703) 838.4550 to sign up to speak.

BUDGET WORK SESSIONS: The materials presented to Council at these work sessions are available on the City’s web page at alexandriava.gov/budget. In its first three work sessions, Council heard staff presentations and discussed the following topics:

Work Session I: Taxes, Fees and Other Revenues (held February 22, 2006)

• 2006 real estate assessments
• Expanding real estate tax relief for the elderly and the disabled, as well as for low and moderate income households
• The added value that new construction has added to the real estate tax base
• The importance of commercial tax revenues as an offset to rising residential assessments
• The need for the City to increase and expand retail sales tax revenues
• Proposed increases in user fees

Work Session II: Proposed Capital Improvement Program Issues (held March 1, 2006)

• The six year plan for capital investments
• Open space acquisition
• Major projects
• Debt policies
• Alternative capital budget reduction options

Work Session III: Employee Compensation Issues (held March 6, 2006)

• Competitive local labor market
• City’s pay position compared to other local governments
• Proposed pay adjustments
• Health insurance cost increases and options to reduce costs
• Implications of new national accounting mandates for retiree health insurance

The following additional City Council budget work sessions are scheduled:

City Operating Budget Issues Monday, March 20, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Samuel Tucker Elementary School

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee Monday, April 3, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Report Presentation and Discussion City Council Workroom, City Hall

Joint Session with City Council and School Wednesday, April 5, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Board on School’s Capital Improvement George Washington Middle School
Program and Operating Budget

Preliminary Add/Delete List Monday, April 17, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
City Council Workroom, City Hall

Finalization of Add/Delete List Monday, April 24, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
City Council Workroom, City Hall

All City Council budget work sessions and legislative meetings are open to the public. City Council will adopt the budget on Monday, April 24. The budget adoption meeting is held in the Council Chamber at 7:00 p.m.

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