Friday, November 30, 2012

Councilman Chris Hilbert to hold meeting in Northside 3rd District: Richmond Government Budget Planning Session with Mayor, Public input needed

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL


Richmond City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, VA 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov



COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY

IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED

Friday, 30 November 2012



Councilman Chris Hilbert to hold meeting in Northside 3rd District: Richmond Government Budget Planning Session with Mayor, Public input needed



Entire Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District invited and encouraged to attend



WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) -- The Honorable Chris A. Hilbert, Councilman, Richmond City Council Northside 3rd Voter District, will hold a meeting in the Northside 3rd Voter District. This will be a community Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meeting with Mayor Dwight C. Jones to receive public input on budget priorities in creating the upcoming Fiscal Year 2014/2015 Richmond Government Budget, which will be established in May of 2013. The current Fiscal Year 2013 Richmond Government Budget is $1,429,628,466.



This Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meeting is very important in helping to identify which Richmond Government programs and services are important to Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District residents for their neighborhoods, and the city as a whole. The meeting will include presentations, discussions and input in the following areas:



Operation Service Priorities

• Streets and sidewalks in your Neighborhood

• Public Transportation

• Recycling Opportunities



Police and Safety Priorities

• Police Protection in your Neighborhood

• Quality of Animal Care and Control



Human Service Priorities

• Parks and Recreation Programs and Facilities in your neighborhood

• Social Services

• Public Health Services

• Public Education



Economic Development

• Employment Opportunities in your neighborhood

• New Businesses



Councilman Hilbert holds individual meetings in Richmond's Northside 3rd Voter District throughout the year that include information on his goals and accomplishments; a topical agenda; and, special guests. These meetings are free and all Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District Residents are invited and highly encouraged to attend and participate.



WHEN Thursday, December 13, 2012

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.



WHERE Richmond Public Schools - Linwood Holton Elementary School

1600 W. Laburnum Avenue

Richmond, Virginia 23227



CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Chris A. Hilbert, at 804.646.6055 or chris.hilbert@richmondgov.com.



Background - Richmond Government Budget ________________________________________

A 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, our children’s education. Together, as residents we own, operate, use and benefit from these services on a daily basis.



Funding for our services and enforcement of laws comes from state, federal and local sources, including fees and taxes (like the Richmond Real Estate Tax.)



In order to set the investments levels we want for these services, Richmond City Council establishes an official Richmond Government Budget in May of each year.



The Richmond Government Budget is based on a Fiscal Year that runs July 1 to June 30 annually and the City operates on a two-year fiscal plan (Budget) that includes the Richmond General Fund, Richmond Capital Improvement Plan, Richmond Special Funds, Richmond Enterprise Funds, Richmond Internal Service Funds, the City Government contribution to Richmond Public Schools; and, additional state, federal, and other funds provided to Richmond Public Schools.



The Richmond Government Budget is typically amended every year. Thus, every year a proposed Richmond Government Budget (Fiscal Plan) is submitted to Richmond City Council by the Mayor, who is responsible for administering local government services. Council then reviews, analyzes and amends and adopts a budget based on the priorities of citizens.



Richmond City Council budget deliberations begin each August and intensify the following year, culminating in nearly 20 public meetings, hearings and work sessions from March through May.



The Richmond Government Budget takes the form of Ordinances that are approved by Richmond City Council each May for an upcoming Fiscal Year.



BACKGROUND - RICHMOND REAL ESTATE TAXES _______________________________________

We as citizens have determined that a fair way to help pay for some of our local citizen government services 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.



Our Richmond Real Estate Tax funds are the largest single local funding we use to help pay for our public services. Richmond real estate owners contribute their share annually, based on the value of their real estate and the tax rate, which is set by June 15 annually. For example, if a person owns $100,000 in real estate and the tax rate is $1.20 per $100 of assessed property value; their share is $1,200 for that year.



Beginning calendar year 2011, our Richmond Real Estate Taxes were divided into two collections a year instead of all at once and market valuation data was lagged one year. Payments are now due as follows: Half by January 14 and half by June 14.



Richmond City Council ______________________________________________________________



Mission - The mission of Richmond City Council is to represent citizens in creating and amending local laws, providing government policy and oversight, and approving the city budget.



Vision - Richmond City Council is committed to creating a vibrant community that is a great place to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.



- E N D -





______________________________________

Steven R. Skinner, APR

Council Public Information Manager

Office of the Chief of Staff

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL

Richmond City Hall

900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305

Richmond, Virginia 23219

804.646.6052 (office)

804.335.4054 (mobile)

804.937.1386 (home/mobile)

804.646.5468 (fax)

skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)

www.council.richmondva.gov(website)

______________________________________



MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council

is to represent citizens in creating and amending

local laws, providing government policy and

oversight, and approving the city budget.



VISION Richmond City Council is committed to

creating a vibrant community that is a great place

to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.