Virginia Beach State of the City

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms delivered remarks on the city's progress in Wednesday's State of the City address at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

Virginia Beach faces a $23.9 million shortfall. Among the topics Mayor Sessoms discussed was the resort city's operating budget. The proposed budget for 2011-2012 includes some spending cuts and increased taxes.

"We're running out of money, considering a tax increase. Last resort, bottom line, it's on the table right now. To keep the quality of life in Virginia Beach or to you, jeopardize it, and I don't want to be in charge when the quality of life goes down," Sessoms said.

City Manager James Spore claims a typical family of four will pay $144 a year more than they currently pay. The city says without increasing taxes and fees, several services and facilities would be cut. On the chopping block: 11 firefighter positions, the DARE program, several school safety resource officer positions, curbside yard debris collection, cuts in SPSA and recycling, etc.

Through these cuts the city would save an estimated $17,733,220. However, that would come at the expense of at least 100 jobs. In order to avoid such drastic cuts, the city manager proposed increasing some taxes and fees.

Real estate tax, for example, would increase by $.02 per $100 under the proposed budget, which is tied for the lowest in Hampton Roads with Suffolk. Car tax would jump $.20. And there would be a new fee of $10 a month for solid waste. If passed, that would go into effect January 1 of next year.

A public hearing on the budget is planned for April 21 at Green Run High School. The final budget is expected to be approved on May 10.

Another topic discussed by the mayor was light rail coming to the beach. "Multi-modal transportation is needed in our region and in our city where light rail is going to end up. I can't tell you we've got to digest what is occurring right now, but it is certainly part of the vision of our transportation," Sessoms said.

HRT just halted plans on its study of expanding light rail to the beach. Federal transit officials had concerns about the study, saying it made more sense to wait for actual ridership numbers once the tide starts rolling in Norfolk.