Council adopts $12.1 million budget amendment and audit plan; mayor outlines state budget gains for Newport News

The Newport News City Council on June 23 voted unanimously to amend and re-adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget, increasing appropriations by $12,100,000 from additional general fund revenue. The council also approved the city auditor's FY27 annual audit plan.

City manager (speaker 18) presented the budget amendment ordinance and recommended approval, saying the change would align appropriations to the current fiscal-year revenue picture; the council adopted the measure 7–0.

During mayoral remarks later in the meeting, the mayor summarized state-level actions that could affect the city: a proposed 4% raise for teachers, a 3.5% increase for nonteaching school staff, Newport News' inclusion in a $13 million community-policing program and a $40 million state allocation intended for Navy housing that the mayor said could be forgiven. The mayor also said the state is allowing cities to place a 1% sales-tax question on a local referendum to fund schools and noted that the city will provide more public information on these items.

Council members asked questions about implementation and whether separate compensation matters (for example, for the sheriff's office) could be addressed after the pay plan adoption. City staff confirmed the pay plan measure would go into effect for the fiscal year and that additional compensation proposals could be brought forward separately.

Both the budget-amendment ordinance and the audit-plan resolution passed by unanimous votes (7–0). The city manager recommended staff follow-up to implement the amended appropriations and the auditor's plan; council members said they expect future briefings regarding state funds and any prospective local referendum.