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Newport News council adopts FY2026 operating budget and related tax and fee ordinances
Summary
The Newport News City Council approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a package of code amendments affecting real estate, personal property, water and sewer rates, and the city employee pay plan on a series of unanimous votes.
Newport News City Council on May 13 approved the city's fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a set of ordinances amending the city code on taxation, water and sewer fees, and employee pay on a series of recorded votes that passed unanimously.
The council voted 7-0 to adopt the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and to approve ordinances reordaining chapters of the Code of the City of Newport News addressing real estate taxes, tangible personal property taxes and levies, water rates and fees, and sewer charges. Council also approved a classification and pay plan for city employees that will take effect in the new fiscal year.
Why it matters: Adoption of the operating budget sets spending and tax policy for the upcoming year and enables departments to implement programs and capital projects. The package of ordinances adjusted rates and levies tied to the budget and codified administrative changes required to implement the spending plan.
Most of the ordinances were presented sequentially by the manager's office and were approved without public speakers. Council members completed individual roll-call votes for each ordinance, and each vote was recorded as 7-0. The city manager's office also acknowledged a number of conflict-of-interest declarations on the record before budget votes were taken.
Other formal actions tied to the budget included amendments to the city code for deferred tax provisions for elderly and disabled residents and clarifications to permit and insurance requirements for street work; both were adopted as part of the ordinance package. The council recorded unanimous approval on those items as well.
The council did not debate or amend the budget on the floor after the manager's presentation; staff and council members thanked the budget team for their work in presenting the recommended plan.
Details and next steps: The budget ordinance authorizes city staff to implement appropriations beginning July 1, 2025. Departments will proceed to align programs and hiring with the approved classification and pay plan. Any line-item adjustments or supplemental appropriations will return to council in later meetings as required by city code.
For accountability, council members said the manager's office and staff will continue to communicate to residents how the budget links to performance measures and service priorities.
