Petersburg’s police dept. plan on making their budget presentation tonight at the conclusion of Council’s regular agenda.

May 20 Agenda

Per the P-I, folks called for full funding of police, full funding of schools, and a decrease in the tax rate. Once again (here, here, here, and here), the mandate seems to be: find a way to provide core services by making cuts elsewhere in the budget, liquidating assets, promoting business development, and/or ???, but not through an increase in real estate taxes. The article notes that in a similar context of rising assessments and an uncertain economy, Richmond has recently decreased the tax rate on real property.

A number of people signed up to speak at this week’s City Council meeting (May 6) to call for a shift in city management’s priorities (in relation to the proposed 2009 city budget). As such, each person had only three minutes to speak, with the result that several individuals were not able to read their statements to Council in their entirety. To read the full text of the letter prepared by Jeff Munn, click here. To read the full text of the letter prepared by Kevin Brown, click here.

In the inbox from the OTMG: “Below is an abbreviated version of an email recently sent our councilman, who offered to then forward it to his fellow councilpersons, city manager, and mayor so they all know the kinds of questions we are asking.  The questions along with the apparent answers might find the funds in the existing budget to take care of our immediate shortfalls in Police salaries, allow for new hires, and a greater likelihood of retention.  This “letter” could also serve as a template for others wishing to communicate with their councilpersons, the mayor, the city manager BEFORE THE UPCOMING MAY 6 COUNCIL MEETING. Please EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS!  

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In the inbox: Petitions in support of priority funding for the Police Dept. and Public School System have been placed in several locations around Petersburg.

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Per today’s P-I article of the above title (here), there is a $3 million or so difference between what’s in the proposed city council budget for the school system ($10.3 million) and what the school budget is asking for ($13.23 million). Also noted in the article: Council’s position is that the difference would have to be made via an increase in taxes (to the tune of $0.25 over the current level).

‘Tis now available on the city’s site, here. It’s also available on this site, here. Head’s up: the file is 37.1 MB, so it will take a few minutes to load.

…at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting, Union Train Station, 7:30pm.