[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6046267,"mediaKeyId","3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e","parentId",3548883,"title","Council authorizes manager to pursue two options to close $1.9M Portsmouth schools gap; debate centers on vacancy accounting vs. one-time loan","audioSeconds",3283,"startMs",552475,"endMs",3836375,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e&start=552&end=3836","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e/thumbnail_552475.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6046267/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Council-authorizes-manager-to-pursue-two-options-to-close-19M-Portsmouth-schools-gap-debate-centers-on-vacancy-accounting-vs-one-time-loan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046267-904b92764cd5433cad2d28580f0f9957/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448521&Signature=SW-kZ~k5IWKGrSUP5O8reLK-U25glEQIYDXFskYO4YGZlEFXmlRJB8Nz3PCYO-F3ERr28TrB00RgwjCTKOyMYiB21mxHcExUTGEhrLeYc8RbBkbI7Kc72uXmoVMN5Jg7-YOSKP34XdiJKQpIu0B1xfD1j~JAsjuJDnYOt~2yjaWlJR~G03JCA35M~RzFawtsd303XyElTN8~uQhXgkX9AeY-7QBLOWYSeEip8A79kCKn~zQdFz5TP5oE-Bc46yaFlmM9kLsfjMZwFErg2PwsBiF92N66hnBoYfRGG4hJGeio4YAiEcP81k5kO~IgDW6m9Q3cY4RdX75W1kVut3EBMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portsmouth, Virginia","date","2025-05-13T01:25:52Z","article","Portsmouth City Council members asked the city manager to continue negotiations with Portsmouth Public Schools to close a roughly $1.9 million gap in the school system's budget, and the council signaled consensus to allow the manager to pursue two options: have the schools account for expected vacancies in their budget or provide a one-time draw from the city's general fund balance to be repaid from the schools' end-of-year surplus.

Why it matters: The choice affects whether the schools avoid program cuts or whether the city uses one-time reserves to temporarily cover recurring personnel costs. Council members emphasized the need to avoid program cuts while debating financial prudence and long-term budgetary implications.

Councilman Hugo led the discussion, offering two possible solutions he said could resolve the school board's $1.9 million request without cutting classroom programs: either the school system's CFO could build a vacancy assumption into its budget (Hugo framed this as acknowledging roughly 30 unfilled positions) or the city could \"spot them the $1.9 million\" from the general fund balance now and have the school repay that amount from its anticipated surplus when year-end books are closed.

Mayor Glover summarized the council's view bluntly during the debate: \"The money's there,\" and urged collaboration to solve the schools' shortfall. At the same time, several council members warned of the risk in treating a recurring personnel cost as a one-time fix. Vice Mayor Moody said, \"The fund balance is a 1 time pot of money. That's not something that's recurring that we...\" and cautioned that funding long-term salary obligations from one-time reserves creates future budget pressure.

Other council members pressed the school system's fiscal practices: speakers noted repeated year-end surpluses in recent years and urged the schools to use vacancy assumptions and existing surplus procedures rather than rely on new recurring commitments from the city. Council members also discussed the school board's internal budgeting processes and liaison communications; Councilwoman Thomas and others said the vacancy figures reported by the Virginia Department of Education do not always reflect in-classroom staffing levels (for example, some positions filled by substitutes or less-tenured staff).

Outcome and next steps: By show of hands, council members indicated consensus to authorize City Manager Steven Carter to pursue both options with Portsmouth Public Schools and to report back to the council. Carter told members he would contact them by phone and email and expected to notify the council of any finalized agreement by about 2 p.m. the next day so any changes could be reflected before the formal budget vote.

Distinction between discussion and decision: Council members clarified the difference between discussing numbers and imposing budget instructions on the school board. Speakers repeatedly said the school board retains authority over its internal budget and programs; the manager's role is to negotiate options and return the results to council for any formal action.

Ending: The council's consensus advanced a short-term pathway for the schools to receive the funding they requested while highlighting continued debate over whether the schools should address the gap through vacancy assumptions or whether the city should provide a temporary loan from fund balance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portsmouth City Council Public Work Session May 12, 2025 Portsmouth Virginia","oneSentenceSummary","Portsmouth City Council members asked the city manager to continue negotiations with Portsmouth Public Schools to close a roughly $1.9 million gap in the school system's budget, and the council signaled consensus to allow the manager to pursue two options: vacancy accounting or a one-time general fund loan to be repaid from the schools' surplus.","taxTitle","Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia","taxId",4040,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046272,"Portsmouth council reviews FY2026 reconciliation; schools, retiree supplement funded, paving reduced",297,123781,421000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e&start=123&end=421","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e/thumbnail_123781.jpg","/articles/6046272/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Portsmouth-council-reviews-FY2026-reconciliation-schools-retiree-supplement-funded-paving-reduced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046272-7189639699ff6bd57eb9f1c55355d73c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448521&Signature=g6HlilKApt49ge0PluIvXTnfgY1i3ROQ05JEzExzX-Ch~t04u2ElrtQkadT-7LfEkzbKbF-cNN0RanfhhWet66DWVYhjigXt8OgerSFLiAxXU8ok3MspcqoUF~jfdG~9mFZqqtj9CnO9WS9QrGBcXM-aGFEUV5D3hKBl0FlL2Ot83jZKJ1yyc~hsmLFkBQ7rcExN1fTfCDv0HwTN2l6JjygeEEfl3v4ybofpb35OI1lqVXENOsVUc642toBKxErzIfOctzyhmWkZDmlD72qhIcqwi23b6wl4ZX~~8TVdk1RMiC2hpSEtRKWwNNlgDnW3OUB~WprRYRgb8DNpBPa53A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portsmouth City Council members spent a work session reviewing changes between the city manager's proposed fiscal 2026 budget and the version the council will consider for adoption, with staff highlighting added funding for Portsmouth Public Schools, a retiree supplement and new support for community programs alongside reductions to paving and parts of the Department of Public Utilities.

Why it matters: The reconciliation affects schools, public works priorities and several one-time and recurring line items that frame next year's spending choices and potential trade-offs with capital and employee pay decisions.

Trey Draper, who presented the reconciliation, told the council the adopted changes include $1,500,000 in additional funding for Portsmouth Public Schools, described there as bringing the school contribution roughly 10% higher than last year. Draper also reported a retiree supplement of about $150,000 and new funding of $175,000 for several community programs named in the presentation. He said the council's packet shows the schools' contribution at approximately $82,800,000.

To offset those increases, Draper said staff reduced the citywide paving allocation by $700,000 and eliminated several items, including an assistant director position in property management and certain Department of Public Utilities programs such as a meter replacement initiative. Draper told the council that projected revenue adjustments include an increased transfer from the Department of Public Utilities and projected speed-camera fines of roughly $312,000.

Council members asked several clarifying questions. Vice Mayor Moody asked which paving projects would be cut; Draper said specific projects had not yet been selected and crews will reprioritize the paving list when conditions are assessed. Councilwoman Thomas and others pressed for more information about how school funding decisions relate to unspent balances and vacancies.

Draper noted a correction to materials provided earlier: a fund balance appropriation that had appeared as a decrease was actually an increase (from about $7.5 million to just over $8 million) and invited questions on the reconciliation.

Process and timing: Council and staff repeatedly stressed that the work session was a review and that any formal budget vote would occur at the council's regular meeting the next day. City Manager Steven Carter told council members he would notify them by phone and email before the formal vote if any negotiated changes with the schools were finalized.

Ending note: The work session left key allocations in place while flagging where staff will return with refined project lists (for paving) or final figures (for transfers and fines) before the council's adoption vote.","Portsmouth City Council members spent a work session reviewing changes between the city manager's proposed fiscal 2026 budget and the version the council will consider for adoption, with staff highlighting added funding for Portsmouth Public Schools, a retiree supplement and new support for community programs alongside reductions to paving and parts of the Department of Public Utilities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046262,"Portsmouth council signals support to publish tax rate at $1.24 after debate over credit and fiscal flexibility",799,6198954,6998880,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e&start=6198&end=6998","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548883-ca57916e3cae366f1c5f1ac75e26541e/thumbnail_6198954.jpg","/articles/6046262/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Portsmouth-council-signals-support-to-publish-tax-rate-at-124-after-debate-over-credit-and-fiscal-flexibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046262-a9c3b8a14ce7df7ea1be53fd91dbc998/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448521&Signature=bbvXs3rwQxSQ9s6tog~o79DrM6nnrg9ECiP2FcIyUp6HTmpuPgRKMWmSK~EaLvYcrKgmVy2iGJgwg6mkWOTma3wsc~3XYs6BR~R6R2TwhEza3oC4AnCXntZpUEc4NN5ErQQtqTBRS6iDoCjtuKREiGi7WwLDF2sDbTYQT870A7Qs0CeGm8lLIZIIGlROVVnayUHUAWh7lpbIv8qwocqK4izZ~ND2A~goXBCrs-3sEyH0rfWnJTsCCc5lAOTlyzwIfo8jQXFE0dG8zHAPnyIzaubq10bksT6ZW2gF1K4~CyJoZFniJL8aT6BX2msiyKa5F-BnEuGZL0ZqKLElkDNEnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portsmouth City Council members debated whether to present the city's tax rate net of the existing credit or to publicize a lower published rate, and by the end of the work session the council indicated consensus to set the city's rate at $1.24 per $100 of assessed value for the coming year.

Why it matters: The city's advertised tax rate is a visible signal to residents and potential homebuyers; council members said publishing a lower rate demonstrates confidence in the city's fiscal direction and can change public perception about Portsmouth's competitiveness compared with neighboring jurisdictions.

Vice Mayor Moody initiated the discussion, urging the council to \"make this, instead of a dollar 30 tax rate, let's make it for what it will be, and that's a dollar 24, cents tax rate.\" He framed the move as a show of confidence in the city's revenue prospects and economic strategy. Several council members urged that the change be permanent rather than a one-time credit.

Opposing viewpoints focused on the fiscal mechanics and political flexibility. City Manager Steven Carter and others explained the difference between a one-time credit and a permanent rate change: using fund balance or credits can provide short-term relief, but a lower permanent rate can reduce flexibility if future revenue needs emerge. Council members pointed out that each penny of tax rate change represents roughly $1 million in city revenue; Councilman Gatson asked rhetorically about that math during the discussion.

After discussion, the council asked for a show of hands and the record shows a consensus among members to move forward with the $1.24 rate presentation for the year. Several members emphasized that annual adoption of a tax rate remains the council's decision and that they would revisit rates in future budget cycles if necessary.

Ending: Council members said the rate discussion would not replace the formal budget adoption process; the manager will proceed with communications and the council will formalize the tax rate at the adoption meeting as required by law.","Council members debated whether to present a published tax rate that reflects the full rate (rather than the usual advertised rate plus a credit). After discussion, council indicated consensus to present an effective tax rate of $1.24 per $100 of assessed value for the coming year, while several members urged caution about losing","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes manager to pursue two options to close $1.9M Portsmouth schools gap; debate centers on vacancy accounting vs. one-time loan

Portsmouth council reviews FY2026 reconciliation; schools, retiree supplement funded, paving reduced

Portsmouth council signals support to publish tax rate at $1.24 after debate over credit and fiscal flexibility