Norris expresses confidence in City
By Sarah Wooten | April 24, 2009Throughout the past few months, the City of Charlottesville has concentrated on drafting a budget that balances the need for increased and improved services with the realities of the current economic situation.After creating new public outreach programs, new environmental initiatives and a so-called rainy-day fund, Mayor Dave Norris said he is confident in the city?s ability to sustain its economic stability.?The last three and a half months, we have focused overwhelmingly on the budget, just trying to figure out how to put together a budget that will maintain basic services in a very difficult economic time,? he said.Vice Mayor Julian Taliaferro said the city did not have to cut any services or city employees when forming the budget plan and was still able to set aside $2.8 million for the economic downturn fund.?I suspect, that if you look anywhere else in the commonwealth it would be hard to find another area in Virginia that didn?t have to lay people off or cut services,? he said.Norris also noted that the city?s unemployment rate is still lower than the national average though it has doubled during the past year.Taliaferro said he was pleased with City Council?s efforts in creating a new budget plan, attributing the budget?s success to ?good financial management practices that have been utilized by both City Council and city staff.?Still, despite Taliaferro?s confidence in the city?s budget, he said he felt ?like next year may be worse.? Nevertheless, he remains hopeful.?I have dealt with the Charlottesville budget for 40 years and we have always come out okay and we will come out okay again,? he said.Looking at the many projects and initiatives Council hopes to see through this year, Norris, however, said he is optimistic even with the effects of the economic downturn.
