Norfolk City Council has approved the city’s $1.3 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019, including a 10-cent increase to the real estate tax rate.
NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk City Council has approved the city’s $1.3 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019, including a 10-cent increase to the real estate tax rate.
The additional revenue from the tax increase -- $18.5 million – will be used to invest in the following initiatives:
- Provide an additional $5 million in funding for Norfolk Public Schools;
- Implement the St. Paul’s plan to redevelop three public housing areas ($3.5 million);
- Restore $1.2 million in funding to the Norfolk Police Department;
- Invest in resilience initiatives to address flooding ($1.8 million);
- Begin to address the backlog of aging city vehicles and equipment ($3.8 million); and
- Provide a salary increase for city employees ($3 million).
City departments helped balance the budget through $8 million in expense reductions and elimination of 82 positions. Increases to certain fees added another $3 million in revenue.
Thanks to all who participated in the city’s budget challenge workshops, the public budget hearing and by using our online budget balancing tool.
For the proposed budget documents and videos, visit
https://www.norfolk.gov/budgettoolkit Check back soon for updated documents on the approved budget.