City manager presents FY26 recommended budget: $1.2B operating plan, no real estate tax increase; council schedules public hearings

The city manager and Lisa Cipriano, the city’s budget director, presented the city manager’s recommended FY2026 operating budget to Newport News City Council and asked the council to adopt a public‑hearing schedule for the budget.

The recommended operating budget totals about $1.2 billion and, as presented, maintains the city’s real estate tax rate at $1.18 per $100 of assessed value with no recommended increases to waterworks, solid waste, stormwater or wastewater user fees. The manager said the budget "is based on maintaining the real estate tax rate of 1 18 per 100 of assessed value." The recommendation includes full funding of the school superintendent’s operating request of $2,400,000, full funding for the public safety step plan begun in the current year, a market‑based compensation plan for non‑sworn general employees, and funds for a 3% general salary adjustment for eligible employees.

Cipriano said the city is recognizing an average assessment increase of 3.76% across eight property categories; she said that, at the current tax rate, each penny on the rate is worth about $2,260,000…