[{"_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",6552383,"mediaKeyId","5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22","parentId",5118091,"title","Finance report: Winchester City close to budget targets; stormwater bond proceeds remain to spend","audioSeconds",546,"startMs",1198000,"endMs",1744000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22&start=1198&end=1744","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22/thumbnail_1198000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552383/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Finance-report-Winchester-City-close-to-budget-targets-stormwater-bond-proceeds-remain-to-spend","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552383-93fb8237b09e4ff06cc9f8e5790d9868/orig.mp4?Expires=1775949451&Signature=gRZhmniHQH9D4zvA18WE8TltjnLzxBBhc~ga2vg48BcMdf-0K-RTVeC60kJcdHTy-QRNiV8nzzrWzbhkIPYMQQRuDrHeVMA-qjVFu2JTxO4OZD-Bs71Yx~xl2xpP~01Xn0ckFwXC0OouLDM7LMwPBVCbG--LvXHIeJpIQkh8DCuJ2YRmr~Hiq9QVFhPwpksknw3uN-NysUBp~OTMs2NIz4jFSt~E~0RHdKtMWl~b5ZEYLDpi0G3rdJ~b4VhL2cUlIqJ4tJXdzbG7odUyKax7VY8TkgL8bzmAUfqwcE2sjlwuLJ~FwNJ6DiOv2kZXPs4J6pfKfhvqCJZdU3fKIUZv1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winchester","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","Winchester City finance staff reported that the city is close to meeting fiscal 2025 budget targets and described several fund-level details, including large stormwater bond proceeds, recent building-permit activity and software-led reporting changes for business-license revenues.

Jerre, a finance staff member presenting the May 31, 2025 report, told the committee the city is within \"$30,000 of the budget currently\" for personal property collections and that real-estate and meals-tax revenues are performing strongly. Jerre said building-permit activity is up because of four major projects, including Cameron Square (work on the former Winchester Tower) and Valley Health projects; staff has seen a permit pulled for the Cameron Square development.

Jerre explained that the stormwater fund shows large expenditures compared with revenue because the city received bond proceeds earlier and is spending them down; the stormwater fund had about $10,300,000 in bond proceeds left to spend. He said utility revenues are slightly down compared with last year but expected to meet budget. Jerre noted a software transition: new business-license software (Affinity/Aveniti) currently collapses multiple business-license revenue codes into one general ledger line for reporting, and staff are working with the vendor to restore detailed reporting in the general ledger even though details remain accessible from the vendor's system.

On fund balance, Jerre told the committee he expects to meet the newly adopted revenue stabilization goal and to end the year with roughly $2.3 million available for the stabilization fund while still keeping the city's fund balance above policy minimums. He said the audit process has started and the comprehensive annual financial report work will continue toward a December release.

Committee members asked about several line items including police overtime billing delays, JJC billing to Frederick County (city bills Frederick County for about 50% of costs), and repair-and-maintenance cycles that can cause year-to-year variance. Jerre said staff will return with a final FY25 report after the 45-day closeout and audit procedures.

Next steps: staff will continue audit work and return with a final fiscal-year report in the fall. Jerre said the comprehensive financial statements should be available by December 1.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Winchester - City Council - Finance Committee - 1:00 PM - Jul 01 2025 - Jul 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City finance staff reported fiscal-year collections largely on track, building permits up while stormwater shows large bond proceeds earmarked for projects; staff expects to fully fund a new revenue stabilization reserve.","taxTitle","Winchester City, Frederick County, Virginia","taxId",5107,"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},6552387,"Committee authorizes 30-day public comment period on proposed Winchester Transit fare increases",817,350000,1167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22&start=350&end=1167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22/thumbnail_350000.jpg","/articles/6552387/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Committee-authorizes-30-day-public-comment-period-on-proposed-Winchester-Transit-fare-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552387-633142587e67378fa32beacd29ad7063/orig.mp4?Expires=1775949451&Signature=nmYumB2E1vVm02kXKjIO2R9Zw47s6sepZSwsEHCr-du5O0mYV436qgiwDudcjS7DRsjjdIpo3rJBr5LMNymzqlsaovFm-v3siK03h8C4IA9iBFcX2rtrXF-XgMaxBQX2KXcKw5rrEtzh89O6T5wAJ9ThaRBKbVgJQ8N4d3LK8ztioop7rG4e0Bs6lWMZ~7G0Z~v~FWUK0g4DdL1rorMj1jPX91Dxc-nTU3Cb~2esPk8P87EX~n7Q3ybKV130fhG1RQIcfa1nt3Vv6u3anx4t8SzzMtyyv4~MLGpYWxfP2m8yCElqsrkMNa2rYryHilvagkeIdXswCx-DX-2LNamvrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winchester City Finance Committee directed staff to begin a 30-day public comment period on proposed fare increases for Winchester Transit, with staff to return to the committee after the comment period with feedback for final action.

Perry, a transit staff presenter, said the council's recent service change left the city operating a single-loop route and that operating costs for the loop exceeded initial assumptions. Perry presented proposed fare increases that would raise the loop route fare from $1.00 to $1.50, the Laurel Ridge route from $2.00 to $3.00, and the WinReady service from $1.50 to $2.00. Perry said the package would generate \"about 45,000\" dollars in additional annual revenue.

Committee members reviewed the arithmetic against the service's projected shortfall. One committee member recapped earlier figures: operating the loop route would cost about $43,000 for the year; modifications to the Laurel Ridge route saved about $15,000, leaving an approximate $28,000 shortfall that the fare increase and other measures would cover. Perry explained federal funding rules that calculate federal operating support after fares and state contributions are subtracted; roughly 50% of the remaining net operating cost is then covered by federal funds and the remainder by the local general fund.

Committee members discussed ridership levels and comparisons with other systems. Perry noted some peer agencies operate fare-free and that \"our current fares are certainly very comparable with other places.\" Members expressed concern about the potential for fares to suppress ridership but concluded the proposed increases appeared reasonable and directed staff to advertise the possible increases and begin a 30-day public comment period. Perry said the public comment period could start \"later this afternoon\" and staff would return to the finance committee in August with comments and proposed action.

Next steps: staff will advertise and run a 30-day public comment period on the proposed fare increases and report back to the finance committee with public input and a recommendation.","Finance committee members directed staff to begin a 30-day public comment period on proposed fare increases for Winchester Transit intended to cover a projected operating shortfall after service changes.",{"_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},6552392,"Finance committee forwards ordinance updating transient-occupancy tax reporting for short-term rental intermediaries",307,39000,346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22&start=39&end=346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5118091-57c97ac650e6f42d7a4a40598b3f3d22/thumbnail_39000.jpg","/articles/6552392/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Finance-committee-forwards-ordinance-updating-transient-occupancy-tax-reporting-for-short-term-rental-intermediaries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552392-67d83bfbe67f06d0ae28b2c595ea946a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775949451&Signature=VnH3g2BfgXGR0KBAouthY855fcG3x-oPzif3mnajdHKtUjVCEIIXU-U~OdpcNSVKMJuh3huYo6O8LFZshMiG3qyiTgoUlWE6HFGjWQSlnpPnSFpxjHeN1QTHiAe0yT8gMhve7EoulJqeA-93FeTpFER69vH0sjLIVUoUR7Tz5WzIpxJJ7fSAw4pa4~KOoUWyUy~is~6DYO0oY7J2JX5PILBLPK6garW05xIwlhBNkOKN4dbUTyghHWfwsTG7ggL5-PpPDnodnlGBvN6EYBWDndj56jki-auyNMbni7RFsGmtbvh4i7pjQR8ZZMezgbgWUFnLhQfISLHVesR4-PJ5fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winchester City Finance Committee voted to forward an ordinance that updates the city's transient-occupancy tax (TOT) rules to match recent state legislation requiring accommodations intermediaries to collect and remit TOT and to provide reporting to the locality.

Powell, a staff presenter, told the committee the change \"is a seemingly very simple and straightforward change to transient occupancy tax\" but reflected years of work at the General Assembly level to bring large accommodations providers into compliance. He said hosts who use intermediaries such as short-term-rental platforms will be able to sign an attestation with the revenue office, and the intermediary will remit tax and provide \"the full details we need to account for what that sum is.\" Powell added the change makes compliance \"much more efficient for the host\" and allows the city to \"ensure we're getting the right revenue.\"

The ordinance includes a reference to confidentiality rules in state law. Powell said the compromise requires adherence to Code of Virginia confidentiality provisions and \"prohibits us from sharing that information with our zoning and inspections department,\" limiting local sharing of intermediary-provided data even as the reporting requirement advances tax collection. He described the restriction as \"not ideal\" but said the step was worth taking to secure tax compliance.

Committee members asked about timing and whether the city could make the ordinance effective retroactively to July 1. Powell said the state legislation went into effect July 1 and that \"they're not waiting for us to pass our ordinance to start doing this,\" so local timing would not hold up collections; July remittances would likely arrive in August. After brief discussion, a committee member moved to forward the measure with a recommendation for approval and the committee voice-voted to send it to a future council meeting with that recommendation.

The ordinance affects short-term rentals using intermediary platforms; Powell said it does not change transient-occupancy rules for brick-and-mortar lodging. He also said providers had agreed to provide data in a usable format for the city, but that state confidentiality rules constrain some intra-city sharing.

Next steps: the item will appear before the full Winchester City Council for consideration with the finance committee's recommendation for approval.","The committee voted to forward an ordinance that aligns city transient-occupancy tax procedures with recent state legislation requiring accommodations intermediaries to remit taxes and provide reporting; confidentiality limits some local data sharing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance report: Winchester City close to budget targets; stormwater bond proceeds remain to spend

Committee authorizes 30-day public comment period on proposed Winchester Transit fare increases

Finance committee forwards ordinance updating transient-occupancy tax reporting for short-term rental intermediaries