News Flash

March 15, 2023 - Work to develop next year's budget is under way, and residents can offer their views in an online informal survey. City Manager Mary Bunting seeks input before her recommended budget is developed to ensure it includes residents' priorities.

Home values increased about 10% in 2022, and Bunting has pledged to recommend a cut in the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2024. Property taxes are the largest source of funding for city operations, as well as the city's money for school operations. Balancing the amount of a tax rate decrease with projected expenses will be the subject for input. Public Works is seeking increases in city waste water and stormwater services, which are funded by user fees.

There have been two Q&A sessions, one in person on Saturday, March 11, at 9 a.m. at Hampton High School. The other was a Facebook Live on March 14, which you can watch or read the questions and answers here: https://www.facebook.com/HamptonVA/videos/631222878743966

The stormwater fee increase would fund enhanced maintenance of basins, ditches, and underground pipes. That proposal would increase the monthly fee for residents by $1 to $11.83 (from $10.83). Business fees are based on that amount but scaled to their square footage of buildings and pavement. Hampton's rate is currently the lowest of six urban cities in Hampton Roads.

The wastewater fee is proposed to increase by an average 73 cents per month for homeowners, making the bill $19.10 per month (from $18.37). This would cover the increase in costs for general sewer system maintenance. Again, Hampton's current user fees are the lowest among urban cities and lower than some of the surrounding counties.

Bunting's recommended budget will be released April 15. City Council will hold public hearings on the budget on April 26 and May 8. A vote is scheduled for May 10.