Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Councilman Charles R. Samuels to hold Richmond Government Budget Planning Session in North Central 2nd Voter District 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

Wednesday, January 23, 2013



Councilman Charles R. Samuels to hold Richmond Government Budget Planning Session in North Central 2nd Voter District with Mayor: Public Input needed



All North Central 2nd Voter District residents invited and encouraged to attend



WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) -- The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd Voter District, will hold a Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meeting in the North Central 2nd Voter District that will Include Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones. The meeting is free and open to the public and all North Central 2nd Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend.



This will be an interactive meeting to receive public input on budget priorities in creating the upcoming Fiscal Year 2014/2015 Richmond Government Budget, which will be established by Richmond City Council in May of 2013. During this meeting, participants will be provided hand-held devices to vote on issues that are important to them.



This Richmond Government Budget Planning Session meeting is very important in helping to identify which Richmond Government programs and services are important to North Central 2nd Voter District residents for their neighborhoods, and the city as a whole. The current 2013 Fiscal Year Richmond Government Budget is $1,429,628,466.



The meeting will include presentations, discussions and input regarding 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 Wednesday, January 30, 2013

6:00-8:00 p.m.



WHERE Science Museum of Virginia

2500 West Broad Street - Richmond, Virginia



WHO The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd Voter District



The Honorable Dwight C. Jones, Mayor of Richmond, Virginia



CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Charles R. Samuels, Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd Voter District, at 804.646.6532; or by email, at charles.samuels@richmondgov.com.



Background - Richmond Government Budget ________________________________________

As Richmond Residents, we pool our resources in order to own and operate our local 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; laws; firefighting/rescue; trash/sewage removal; police/courts; public transportation; and, our children’s education. Together, we own, operate, use and benefit from these services on a daily basis.



Funding for our services and enforcement of laws comes from state, local and federal 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 annual Richmond Government Budget in May of each year for the upcoming Fiscal 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 (draft) 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, amends and establishes a new official Richmond Government Budget based on the priorities of residents.



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 residents, have determined that a fair way to help pay for some of our local 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.