Welcome to Spring!
Spring means budget season and the start of all things outdoor with festivals and festivities! Let’s start with festivities!
I hope you will enjoy the Norfolk NATO Festival over the weekend of April 16, 17, 18 and 19. The Flag Raising Ceremony on Thursday, April 16 is particularly special. Seeing the NATO members parade together on Scope Plaza in downtown Norfolk is simply amazing. The International Tattoo and the Parade take place over the course of the weekend.
I mentioned Sail250 in my last email but since then, they have announced a line-up of great performances that will take place over the weekend.
Here is the link to the four full day festivities: https://sail250virginia.com/
Here is the link to the performance line-up over the weekend: https://festevents.org/
Okay…on to the FY27 budget….here are some highlights. First and foremost, there are no tax increases in the proposed budget.
The FY2027 proposed budget totals $2,043,785,360.
Operating Budget: $1,634,697,306
Capital Budget: $ 335,320,881
HUD Grants: $ 6,054,939
Annual Grants: $ 67,712,234
General Fund revenues are anticipated to increase to $925.2M in FY 27, which represents a $34.1M increase over FY26.
The budget includes $100M for the Norfolk Police Department going towards improved compensation, training and major maintenance for the Police Operating Center. A fourth shift will be implemented for the Norfolk Fire and Rescue (NFR) team that will reduce overtime needs and enhance the quality of life by adding 34 new firefighter positions bringing the total NFR budget to $72M. Fire Station #9 will be replaced on Granby Street that is over 70 years old.
Norfolk Sheriff’s Office will have improved compensation through market adjustment, step increases and we will address maintenance needs in the jail. The Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney is slated to receive an additional $500,000 to hire additional prosecutors and paralegals to prosecute misdemeanors. The Norfolk Court House will receive funding for technology upgrades in the courtrooms.
Norfolk Public Schools total proposed operating budget is $465M. The City funding formula allows for an increase of city funding by $8M in FY 2027 bringing the city portion to $173M. Recall there is already pre-existing significant capital investment in the new Maury High School that will open in August 2028. Starting salaries for teaches will increase 2.1% from $60,008 to $61,289.
Team Norfolk employees will receive a 2.5% general wage increase in July. Public safety employees will receive their step increases in October and the General employee step increase will take place in January.
The proposed budget includes $1M for transportation improvements to replace and or upgrade intersections and traffic signals. Dredging in the South Blake Road area off of Granby Street in the Lafayette River is funded at $3M over 2 years. The Homeless Task Force is slated to add 9 new positions that will allow for more outreach on nights and weekends. A new patcher truck and pothole team will be created for street maintenance.
In terms of beautification and maintenance, there is $5M designated for waterfront infrastructure repairs along the Waterside waterfront; $451,000 in FY27 is allocated to start the rehabilitation of the Brambleton Avenue Bridge; $2.5M for improvements at Harbor Park; $1.5M for building improvements at the Monroe Building downtown that is home to the Governor’s School for the Arts; and 6 new employees for our Zoo.
Chrysler Hall renovations will begin in July 2026 and last for two years. The funding for the renovation will include $76M in FY27 from the city in addition to historic tax credits and philanthropy from generous donors.
What is next? The public hearing takes place on Tuesday, April 8. Norfolk City Council votes on the final budget on May 12.
Have I put you to sleep yet? Exciting news…the West Ghent’s Westover Memorial Park renovation is complete! The ribbon cutting took place March 28 with lots of families enjoying the new play equipment.
Cheers!
Courtney
West Ghent’s Westover Memorial Park Renovation Ribbon Cutting
Lakewood Civic League Meeting
Old Dominion University Graduate Program in Intl. Studies Strategic Leadership Workshop
Grady living his best life in his chair