Charlottesville City Council held its second and final public hearing last night regarding its plans for the 2008-09 city budget.
One main beneficiary of funds from the city budget of $140,992,521 will be Charlottesville City Schools. The school board submitted a budget request to the Council for $39,781,531 for the upcoming year, and Council's proposed budget projects fully funds the request.
Several citizens questioned the proposed funds for the school system and their usage, particularly noting the health club contribution for school system employees.
"Why is the school budget sacrosanct?" Charlottesville resident Colette Hall asked. She noted that fully funding or increasing the school budget every year means that "schools don't have to tighten their belts like citizens do."
Hall added that there has not been a corresponding increase in school enrollment to justify the increasing school budgets. She and several other citizens said the proposed funding for gym memberships for school employees was "ridiculous."
Council member David Brown said in clarification that Council can only "determine the level of funding, not how the school board spends it." He said the schools are not paying for gym memberships for their staffs but rather are working to broker deals with gym facilities for reduced rates -- a deal that is offered by many corporations as a bonus to their employees.
The Northwestern Virginia Health Systems Agency also petitioned Council for funds for the upcoming year. Charlottesville resident Bill Daggett said the NWVHSA is mandated by state legislation and originally was meant to be funded by both state and local governments. In recent years the state has cut funding, leaving local governments to pay for the organization. Several city residents and Council members spoke against funding the organization with city funds, saying it would set a pattern in which the state would feel it could create unfunded agencies and leave local governments to pick up the tab.
Also discussed at the meeting was Council's reserve fund of about $100,000, of which about $40,000 remains. The reserve fund is available to Council for allocation to groups whose funding does not fall into the regular budget.
Several groups, including the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, Streamwatch, The African-American Teaching Fellows of Charlottesville-Albemarle and Jefferson Area Board for Aging, petitioned Council for the use of part of its reserve fund. Each of these groups asked for $10,000 or less for the 2008-09 year.
Although several citizens spoke in favor of these reserve funds allocations, citing the groups' achievements in the community and the relatively small funding requests, other community members argued against providing those funds.
Charlottesville resident Bill Sampson said he believes Council should not use this fund to sponsor so many groups.
"Leave charitable giving to the individual," he said, adding that Council should not use taxes to mandate the charities to which a person donates.
Charlottesville City Council will vote on the 2008-09 budget at a special meeting April 15.
Read More
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | 7 hours agoMany students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
U.Va.’s Finals Weekend spotlights the achievement and service of the Class of 2025
By Leigh Bailey | 2 days agoIn University President Jim Ryan’s welcome address, he acknowledged the support of family members and friends present in the audience and beyond that played supportive roles in these graduates’ lives.
Students reflect on the election of first American pope
By Bertie Azqueta | 2 days agoCatholic students on Grounds expressed surprise about Leo’s election.
