City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. April 16, 2018 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 16 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2017-2018 The special meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 10 Robertson Street, Radford, VA. The Mayor of the City, Dr. Bruce Brown was present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Mr. Robert Gropman, Mr. Daniel Keith Marshall, and Mr. Michael Turk. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Mrs. Jenni Wilder, Public Information Coordinator, City Clerk Mr. Don Goodman, Chief of Police Mrs. Patricia Cox, Finance Director Mrs. Chelista Linkous, Assistant Finance Director PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: F.Y. 2018-2019 Budget SUMMARY: The Budget of F.Y. 2019 has been delivered to City Council from the City Manager, as required by the City Charter. Revenues are balanced with expenditures in the amount of $58,189,863. The proposed budget provides sufficient revenues and transfers to pay for expenditures, maintains positive fund balances, provides resources for maintenance and improvements to infrastructure, supports core customer services and equipment replacement, as well as identifies funds for payments to service the City debt. The funds are summarized as follows: The following is a synopsis of the 2018 – 2019 Budgets: CITY OF RADFORD Total for City GENERAL FUND 25,606,019 STREETS MAINTENANCE FUND 2,785,571 TRANSIT 3,334,418 WATER/WASTEWATER FUND 4,948,270 ELECTRIC FUND 20,121,535 SOLID WASTE FUND 1,394,050 *INTERNAL SERVICES 745,909 *Not included in total above as this fund is allocated through all other funds. Included in the City’s Budget is the Radford City School Board Budget in the amount of $18,583,558, which was presented to City Council on April 9. 2018. The Summary is as Follows: RADFORD CITY SCHOOL BOARD Total for Schools OPERATING FUND 15,936,833 CAFETERIA FUND 663,442 GRANTS FUND 1,321,762 TEXTBOOKS FUND 441,521 CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND 220,000 SUBJECT: 2018 Tax Rate SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the 2018 Tax Rate with Real Estate Tax Rate of $0.76, Personal Property at $2.44, Machinery and Tools at $1.76, and other personal property at $1.76. Mayor Brown opened the public hearing at 5:51 Carol Colby said that she has never spoken at a public hearing, but is grateful for this process and how well advertised the public hearing was. Ms. Colby stated that she believes that property taxes need to be raised in Radford to absorb the operational expenses across board. By raising taxes Council would be looking at putting the burden of the expenses upon the people who can probably afford it the most. Raising taxes needs to be done, it is long overdue. Ms. Colby also asked about the drop in funding for the Police Department for the upcoming year. Mr. Ridpath informed Ms. Colby that the cost savings were in personnel, insurance and VRS. Lauren Queensberry has question about the EMS services and how the cost savings is being absorbed, as well as what is the impact to citizens with the City running EMS calls versus Carilion. Mr. Ridpath stated that there is no change in billing of customers who use the EMS services, insurance and billing are processed the same way. Bruce Chase addressed his letter to the editor in the Radford News Journal which expresses concerns about the use of reserve funds to balance the budget. Mr. Chase stated that Council needs to adopt a sustainable budget to keep the city healthy. Council needs to adopt a sustainable budget to keep the city healthy. Mr. Chase has concerns about the budget that has been adopted the past two years which contained deficit spending. Kate Brennan told Council that she agrees with Carol Colby, that taxes need to be raised. Radford is a great city, but could be better if we raised taxes. Raising taxes would be a fair way to increase the City’s budget. Mayor Brown Closed the public hearing at 6:02 Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance #1702 F.Y. 2019 Budget SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the F.Y.18-19 Annual Budget for the City of Radford and Radford City School Board. As proposed, the total budget will be $58,189,863. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to place Ordinance # 1702 on its first reading, seconded by Mr. Turk. DISCUSSION: Mr. Gropman asked to amendment the Capital Improvements Plan to add a Frisbee Golf Course. Mayor Brown told Mr. Ridpath that he has a lot of hats to wear, but the most important is forming the City’s Budget. Mayor Brown expresses his appreciation for the financial picture that was given to Council. Mayor Brown challenges the next Council to begin this process earlier and consider moving to a calendar year, starting earlier would allow Council to give their full input on where they would like to see the City head. Mayor Brown said that he supports Mr. Ridpath and his team and therefore will be supporting this budget, but over the coming years Council’s will have tough decisions to make to continue to provide for services. VOTE: Mr. Gropman: Yes Mr. Marshall: Yes Mr. Turk: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance #1703: Establishes the 2018 Tax Rate SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the 2018 Tax Rate with Real Estate Tax Rate of $0.76, Personal Property at $2.44, Machinery and Tools at $1.76, and other personal property at $1.76. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to place Ordinance #1703 on its first reading, seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: Mr. Gropman: Yes Mr. Marshall: Yes Mr. Turk: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes Mayor Brown thanked Mr. Ridpath and his Budget Team. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:10 p.m., seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, City Clerk