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
Richmond City Council and Mayor Dwight C. Jones to hold community Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meetings to receive public input on budget priorities in creating the upcoming Richmond Government Budget
The FY 2014/2015 Richmond Biennial Government Budget Includes: Richmond General Fund, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), Special Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, and Federal, State and additional funds for Richmond Public Schools
WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) -- Richmond City Council and Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones will be holding community Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meetings 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.
These meetings are free and open to the public and all Richmond Residents are invited and highly encouraged to attend and participate.
These Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meetings are very important in helping to identify which Richmond Government programs and services are important to Richmond residents for their neighborhoods, and the city as a whole. The meetings 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
WHEN/ Tuesday, December 4, 2012; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE Richmond Public Schools - Southampton Elementary School
3333 Cheverly Road; Richmond, Virginia 23225
Tuesday, December 11, 2012; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Public Library - Main Library
101 E. Franklin Street; Richmond, Virginia 23219
Wednesday, December 12, 2012; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Public Schools - George Mason Elementary School
813 N. 28th Street; Richmond, Virginia 23223
Thursday, December 13, 2012; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Public Schools - Linwood Holton Elementary School
1600 W. Laburnum Avenue; Richmond, Virginia 23227
WHO The Honorable Members of Richmond City Council
The Honorable Dwight C. Jones, Mayor of Richmond
CONTACT For more information, please contact Steve Skinner, Council Public Information Manger, at 804.646.6052 (office); 804.335.4054 (mobile); 804.937.1386 (home/mobile); or skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)
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.
