News Flash

Feb. 3, 2017 - Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting wants to hear from Hampton residents as she and her team begin to develop budgets -- both capital and operating -- that will carry the city through the next fiscal year and beyond.

Residents can attend any or all of three in-person forums to ask questions or offer input as part of the city's "I Value" program that seeks to link funding priorities with services and projects of most value to the city's taxpayers.

A general budget information and input meeting will kick off this year's sessons on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Kecoughtan High School. Learn more about the budget process, revenues, restrictions and proposals at this meeting, which will also offer the opportunity for open-ended questions and comments.

The focus will be on capital projects, which include new construction or major renovations, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Hampton High School. This will include projects for the city's five-year capital plan as well as longer-term strategic priorities -- most designed to grow the city's tax base and future tax revenues.

The annual budget for fiscal year 2018 will be the topic on Monday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethel High School. This will include discussions of spending and/or cuts for traditional city services, staff, and programs. Among the new requests for next year are proposed increases for police staffing and technology. 

This will be the eighth year of the city's "I Value" effort, which seeks input before a city budget is proposed to the City Council. The concept, which has won awards nationally, is to include taxpayer priorities during the formulation of the spending plans, rather than in public hearings in reaction to a proposal.