Thursday, March 14, 2013
If adopted at the maximum rate, the real estate property tax would result in the average Alexandria residential tax bill increasing up to $314.
Alexandria City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to advertise the maximum residential and commercial property tax rate at $1.038 per $100 of valuation for fiscal year 2014, an increase of 4 cents from the prior year but down from an initial recommendation of a 5.5-cent hike. Council can settle on any rate at or below $1.038 as it works through the budgeting process, which is scheduled to end with adoption on May 6. The tax rate on motor vehicle property is proposed to increase from $4.75 to $5 per $100 of assessed value. The rate on business equipment and other types of vehicles is not proposed to change. In its budget guidance for City Manager Rashad Young, council asked for an optional 3-cent hike to offset cash capital investments on …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The city's general manager said he considered a projected $30.5 million budget shortfall in this fiscal year 2014 plan.
Alexandria’s city manager Tuesday proposed a $626.6 million operating budget for fiscal year 2014. The proposal includes a 3 cent real estate property tax increase to $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for cash capital investments, and a motor vehicle tax rate of $5 per $100 of assessed value—an increase of 25 cents. The increases would add a combined $21.1 million in revenue. These tax rate hikes would be used to pay for an increase in the Alexandria City Public Schools operating budget, capital investments and transit expansion and improvement programs, City Manager Rashad Young said in a Tuesday afternoon media briefing at City Hall. Within the General Fund Operating Budget, Alexandria City Public Schools would see an increase of 3 …
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Residents are encouraged to offer their input on the city's FY14 budget at Oct. 13 public hearing.
City Council invites the public to attend its regularly scheduled Saturday public hearing to offer comments on the fiscal year 2014 operating budget and Capital Improvement Program. The Oct. 13 hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in City Hall. Residents are encouraged to provide input on how the city should use "its available resources to meet its most important community goals," according to a news release from the city. Fiscal Year 2014 begins July 1, 2013. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Budget.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman reiterates that the school system has run out of space due to rapid growth.
The School Board officially approved its final budget of $239.2 million for fiscal year 2013 last week, a slight uptick from its previously approved $235.8 million in February. The board is required to approve the FY13 final ACPS CIP budget, including adjustments from City Council decisions and other recommendations for changes not included in the board's FY13 budget approved in February. During board meeting discussion prior to a vote on the budget, Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman highlighted the looming issue of overcapacity. “The core of this proposal is a recurring theme for this year and many years to come,” Sherman said. “The theme is capacity. We are out of space.” For FY13, the board last week approved …
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Alexandria vice mayor says the mismanagement of capital improvement funds by the school system doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.
Alexandria Vice Mayor Kerry Donley took the city’s school system to task Tuesday night over the mismanagement of funds related to its Capital Improvement Program. In November, an audit of certain Alexandria City Public School financial records revealed that employees no longer with the system made inaccurate initial cost estimates and expenditure authorizations that exceeded the budget. The mismanagement was related to approximately $4.1 million in vendor invoices that had not been processed for payment. The increased costs were primarily for the installation of modular classrooms at James K. Polk Elementary and a classroom addition at Charles Barrett Elementary. Donley brought up the issue Tuesday as City Council formally moved to …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
School Superintendent Morton Sherman has taken steps to rectify the situation with a full audit report expected to be delivered within two weeks.
An audit of certain Alexandria City Public School financial records has revealed mismanagement of funds and invoices related to the $211 million Capital Improvement Program. Superintendent Morton Sherman requested a comprehensive review in September after sensing possible mismanagement and hired Farmer Cox and Robinson to conduct a procedures review reporting directly to him and the School Board attorney. The final report is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. On Monday, Sherman sent a memo to Mayor Bill Euille and City Council explaining the situation. In one instance, a fiscal 2011 budget transfer was prepared and submitted by the Educational Facilities Department directly to the city for processing without proper ACPS …
Nate McKenzie
3:37 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Although a bit simplistic, a tool like this (from Fairfax County) would let us see the forest from the trees when we discuss budget numbers: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/letter-simulation.pdf more ›