Newport News council continues FY2026 budget hearing; residents urge funding for youth programs, mental health and homelessness

Newport News City Council on April 8 continued the public hearing on the city manager's recommended fiscal year 2026 operating budget to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10 at Room 113 of the Denbigh Community Center.

The hearing was opened by Mayor Philip Jones and included a presentation in the city video outlining priority-based budgeting and an invitation for residents to participate through an online Balancing Act tool. "This year, we've made it easier and more engaging than ever for you to be a part of the conversation," the video said. Council members also explained schedule deadlines tied to state code: the council plans to adopt the Newport News Public Schools operating budget on May 13; the transcript notes the last legal adoption date for schools is May 15 and for the city's operating budget June 15.

The continuation drew multiple public commenters who urged council to support community organizations and services tied to youth development, gun-violence intervention, literacy and mental health. Terry Fenner, assistant principal and alumnus of Heritage High School speaking for the mentorship program My Brother's Keeper and My Sister's Keeper, asked the council to "approve the Community Support Agency grant" for the program, and described retreats, counseling and academic supports offered to participants.

Christopher Moore, president of Back for the Kids Movement, said his organization had applied for a community support grant but was not considered and asked to be reconsidered. Katie Morgan, executive director of Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads, thanked the city for prior funding and described YVCHR's Service Through STEM program, saying it expanded from 9 to 12 Newport News schools and grew from 272 to 662 student participants in recent years. "For high schools that are tasked by the VDOE with providing service learning experiences for students, for elementary teachers who are eager to reinforce science concepts by way of a really cool high school mentor, and for a community that wants and needs to cultivate and retain a strong future workforce, this program is designed to meet those needs," Morgan said.

Jason Thornton, executive director of Literacy for Life, thanked council for inclusion in the recommended budget and said the organization has served 922 adult learners across the Peninsula this fiscal year, with 229 Newport News residents receiving more than 4,200 hours of instruction since July. Chanel Ketchmore (representing Catch More Kids) and program participants described individual improvements and asked for continued funding. Philip Hatchett, past chairman of Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center, urged council to consider a $10,000 community support grant to pay for counseling for uninsured residents and for a residency program to train new therapists.

Speakers also raised broader needs. Aaron Easter of Virginia Organizing pressed council to make public a homelessness study the city funded and to consider setting aside money for shelter similar to Hampton's $1.5 million allocation; budget director Lisa Cipriano later told Councilman Neely the current budgeted amount for homelessness-related programs is $2.3 million, and the vice mayor noted additional funding raises the total to about $3 million when combined with other contributions. Whitney King of the Autism Society of Tidewater thanked council for recognition of Autism Acceptance Month and highlighted the city's Project Guardian initiative to train officers on interactions with autistic residents.

The council voted 6-0 to continue the public hearing to April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Denbigh Community Center.