Citizens invited to sign-up to speak during Richmond City Council Public Hearing on FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget
Free parking; Meeting to be televised
WHAT Richmond City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Mayor’s proposed
Fiscal year 2011 Richmond Government Budget. Citizens are invited to sign-up to speak during the meeting and address the full body of Council by calling 804.646.7955. Parking is free and the meeting will be
televised on local PBS TV Station, WVCW.
WHEN Monday, April 5, 2010
6:00-9:00 p.m.
WHERE Richmond City Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor;
900 E. Broad Street
CONTACT For signing-up to speak at Public Hearing, please call 804.646.7955.
For other meeting information, please call Steve Skinner, 804.646.6052 (tel); or 804.937.1386 (mobile); steven.skinner@richmondgov.com
BACKGROUND ____________________________________________________________________
A function of its core mission as the governing body of Richmond, Richmond City Council is responsible for establishing the annual Richmond Official Government Budget. Richmond Citizens are invited and encouraged to attend all Council meetings and budget work sessions (mid-March through late May, listed below) and are encouraged to contact the Richmond Councilmember representing their voting district (by phone, in person, via email, at a meeting or by letter) to learn more, provide input, and/or ask questions.
BUDGET PROCESS AND FULL MEETING SCHEDULE __________________________________
2010 Richmond City Council
RICHMOND OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET/TAX RATE PROCESS
For FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget and 2010 Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate
_______________________________________________________________________________________
As Richmond Citizens, we pool our resources to own and operate our government and decide what public services we want to invest in; the priority (investment levels) for these services; and, how we pay for them. Examples of our services include the management, oversight and delivery of such things as clean/safe water; streets/parks; firefighting/rescue; trash/sewage removal; laws, police/courts; public transportation; and, public education. Together, we own, operate, use and benefit from these services every day.
Richmond Government operates on a two-year (biennial) fiscal plan (budget) and is currently working under the second year of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010/2011 Richmond Official Government Budget. The Budget is typically amended in the second year, before the beginning of the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30 annually. Council sets a Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate by April 15 each year.
As part of this process the Mayor submits a proposed budget draft to Council. Council reviews this draft and prepares the Richmond Official Government Budget.
Council’s budget process is managed by the Richmond City Council Finance Standing Committee (RCCFSC) . Members of the 2010 RCCFSC include: Chairman Ellen F. Robertson, Councilwoman, Gateway 6th District; Vice Chairman Charles R. Samuels, North Central 2nd District, and Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, West End 1st District.
Council's budget review and deliberations span three months, mid-March through May, during two dozen public meetings/special work sessions, which includes adopting a Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate and the Richmond Official Government Budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY).
The Richmond City Government Budget includes the City General Fund, Capital Improvement Plan, Special Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Richmond Public Schools. The City’s two-year fiscal plan (Budget) is amended every year.
Richmond citizens are encouraged to attend all Council meetings and budget work sessions and invited to contact their Councilmember and publicly address Council during scheduled Public Hearings.
The final budget takes the form of Council Ordinances, which, when approved by Council become law. These Ordinances will be available from the Richmond City Council website, at www.council.richmondva.gov. Copies will also be available for review in the Richmond City Council Office of the City Clerk, Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200.
The following are tentatively scheduled dates that will include Budget discussions or action. This schedule is subject to changes and updates. For the latest times and locations, please call 804.646.7955.
Richmond City Council
FY 2011 Richmond Official Government Budget
and Real Estate Tax Meetings
All meetings held in Richmond City Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad St.
MARCH
Monday, March 8, 2010 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Informal Council Meeting - Regularly scheduled meeting to prepare for the Formal meetings, which may include budget discussions.
Monday, March 8, 2010 – 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Formal Council Meeting (Possible 2010 Richmond Real Estate Tax Rates Introduced)
Regularly scheduled meeting that will include introduction of possible Richmond Real Estate Tax Rates, Public and other budget discussion/public business. Each year a number of different real estate tax rates are introduced as possibilities, which include some lower and some higher. If no new tax rate is adopted, it remains the same. The tax rate applies to the previous year’s real estate tax assessment.
Monday, March 22, 2010 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Informal Council Meeting (Proposed/Draft FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget Submitted to Council) - Regularly scheduled meeting that will include official submission of the Mayor’s proposed FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget and may include budget discussions. Informal meetings are held to prepare for Formal meetings. Note: On February 22, 2010, Richmond City Council (Ordinance # 2010-34-40) extended deadline for Mayor to submit a proposed budget; from March 6 to March 22 at 3:00 p.m.
Monday, March 22, 2010 – 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Formal Council Meeting (Proposed/Draft FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget Presented to Council) - Regularly scheduled meeting that will include Mayor’s presentation of proposed FY 2011 Budget/other budget discussion/business.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - Work session to hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
APRIL
Thursday, April 1, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - Work session to hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Monday, April 5, 2010; 6:00-9:00 p.m.
COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 2011 RICHMOND OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET
Residents interested in signing-up to speak at the Public Hearing are to call 804.646.7955
Tuesday, April 6, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Thursday, April 8, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Monday, April 12, 2010 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Informal Council Meeting - Regularly scheduled meeting to prepare for the Formal meetings, which may include budget discussions.
Monday, April 12, 2010 – 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Formal Council Meeting (PUBLIC HEARING on ADOPTION of 2010 Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate) - Regularly scheduled meeting that will include 2010 Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate Adoption/budget discussion/public business.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Thursday, April 15, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Thursday, April 22, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Monday, April 26, 2010 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Informal Council Meeting - Regularly scheduled meeting to prepare for the Formal meetings, which may include budget discussions.
Monday, April 26, 2010 – 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Formal Council Meeting (PUBLIC HEARING on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds) - Regularly scheduled meeting that will include a public hearing on CDBG funds/other budget discussions/public business.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
Thursday, April 29, 2010; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session - To hear presentations from departments, receive budget updates and review information.
MAY
Monday, May 3, 2010 - 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Council Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting (Council Reviews Amended Budget) - Regularly scheduled meeting that May include a Public Hearing on Proposed FY 2011 Budget/budget discussions.
Monday, May 10, 2010 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Informal Council Meeting - Regularly scheduled meeting to prepare for the Formal meetings, which may include budget discussions.
Monday, May 10, 2010 – 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Formal Council Meeting (Approval of Community Development Block Grant funds Introduction of proposed FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget Amendments) - Regularly scheduled meeting that will include the approval of Community Development Block Grant funds; the introduction of Council’s Amended FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget; and, other budget discussion/public business.
Monday, May 24, 2010 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Informal Council Meeting - Regularly scheduled meeting to prepare for the Formal meetings, which may include budget discussions.
Monday, May 24, 2010 - 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Formal Council Meeting (Council Official Adoption of FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget) - Regularly scheduled meeting that will include the Official Adoption of the FY 2011 Richmond Government Budget/other public business.
BACKGROUND ON RICHMOND REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENTS ________________________
We as citizens have determined that a fair way to help pay for our local citizen government is for Richmond real estate owners to annually contribute funds based on a percentage of the value of the real estate they own in the city. Therefore, each year the fair market value of real estate in the city is assessed and an annual Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate is set. The rate is the percentage, based on $100 of value, that each real estate owner will contribute to help pay for government services in the city. The current Richmond Real Estate Tax Rate is $1.20 per $100 of assessed real estate property value.
Our real estate tax is the largest single funding source we use to pay for our public services. There are approximately 73,000 real estate properties in Richmond and, to help ensure fairness, Virginia State Law requires that Richmond perform annual real estate assessments to determine fair market value.
Real estate owners contribute their share annually, based on the value of their real estate and the tax rate by June 15. For example, if a person owns $100,000 in real estate and the tax rate is $1.20 per $100 of assessed real estate property value; their share is $1,200 for that year.
Parking ___________________________________________________________________________
Public Transportation, via GRTC, and street parking around/in the vicinity of Richmond City Hall is available. Free lot parking is available in the surface parking lot, located next to Richmond City Hall on East Broad Street, between 10th and 11th Streets. Public access to the lot is accessible from the entrance on the10th Street side, near the north-east corner of Broad and 10th Streets. The lot is owned by Virginia Commonwealth University, which has partnered with the City to provide the free spaces. The lot will be staffed with a parking attendant, who assist entry into the lot and provide parking directions. Exits from the parking lot are located at 10th and 11th Streets.
Residents are to be aware that neither Virginia Commonwealth University nor the city of Richmond are responsible for vehicles parked in the lot and that vehicles left in the lot after the conclusion of a Richmond City Council Formal Meeting Session will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- E N D -
