Newport News residents press council for property tax relief as FY2026 budget hearing continues

Newport News residents and nonprofit leaders used a continuation of the public hearing on the city manager’s recommended FY2026 operating budget in April 2025 to press the City Council for property tax relief for long-term homeowners and to thank the council for proposed support for senior services and local cultural institutions.

Speakers including Marshall Morgart and several seniors urged relief from rising property taxes, citing steep assessment increases since 2019. “At some point we gotta say, hey, how about giving the people a little bit of relief?” Marshall Morgart said, adding that his own property assessment rose “over 35%, which was from $1,800 to $2,800.” Another resident said rising property taxes could force longtime owners from their homes and asked council members to “look at those people that’s been in these homes all these periods of time and see if there’s something that we can do.”

Nonprofit leaders told the council their programs serve…