Tuesday April 15, Charlottesville City Council passed a $93.6 million budget with Councilor Rob Schilling casting the lone dissenting vote. Schilling voiced opposition to the one-cent meals tax increase, the use of that money and the budget as a whole. The budget subsequently passed by a 4-1 vote.
The new budget takes effect July 1. The new budget raises the meals tax one cent, increases vehicle decal fees, doubles the cost of trash stickers and reduces the real estate tax rate from $1.11 to $1.09 per $100 of assessed value.
According to Schilling, the approved budget is 5.4 percent higher than this year's $88.8 million spending plan.
Council reserves 40 percent of the budget for schools, but Schilling argues the amount of money the schools need fluctuates each year. He said he believes the formula for school funding should be reconsidered.