March 29, 2024

Uvenco

Interior Of The Road

Petersburg’s adopted FY 2022-23 budget includes lowered tax rate and $17 million in capital improvements

Petersburg City Hall at 135 N. Union Street.

Petersburg City Hall at 135 N. Union Street.

PETERSBURG — The city’s newly approved budget for FY 2022-23 includes a real estate tax rate that was lowered for the first time in a few decades. It also combines local funds with grants and other monies for around $17 million worth of capital improvements, some of which are earmarked for some prominent projects.

The city’s adopted Operating Budget equals $104,201,022. The General Fund accounts for about 71% of the total budget, coming in at $73,856,740. The General Fund is Petersburg’s main source of financing day-to-day activities and long-term projects.

The General Fund’s major revenues come from General Property Tax (50%), state revenues (19%) and other local taxes (18.4%).

About 24 cents of every tax dollar goes to public safety, 20 cents to social services, 14 cents to the school system, nine cents to general government uses, seven cents to constitutional officers and eight cents to public works. A further 18 cents is split among other uses like courts and community affairs.

This year’s budget was finalized by Interim City Manager Kenneth Miller. He was also responsible for the FY 2021-22 budget in his previous stint as interim. Miller wrote in the budget’s documents that it was compiled to align with the city’s strategic goals for 2021-25.

Those strategic goals prioritize economic development, neighborhood vitality, good governance and celebrating Petersburg through tourism and community pride.

Real estate tax rate

FY 2022-23 was calculated using a smaller real estate tax rate than in previous years. Petersburg lowered its rate from $1.35 to $1.27 per $100 of assessed value. For several years, it was the second highest real estate tax rate in the state, and it hadn’t been lowered since 2006.

The new rate equals a savings of about 6% to homeowners. According to the U.S. Census, the average Petersburg home is valued at $111,800. The amount of taxes owed for a home at that value would be $1,419.86, compared to $1,509.30 at the previous rate.

Despite the decrease in its tax rate, Petersburg is still projected to collect more than it did in FY 2021-22 due to an enormous 13.4% increase in citywide property values during the pandemic. Property tax revenues are set to increase from $24.3 million to $26 million in FY 2022-23.

More: Petersburg real estate values are up across the city, rose 13% this past year

Employment

Total employment for the city is 645 workers, three more than in last year’s budgeted number.

Public safety had slight swings in both fire and police. Fire and Emergency Services added three total employees, including a program coordinator, assistant fire marshal and a fire captain. The Bureau of Police lost four employees, including two sergeants and two police officers.

Police is funded for 100 total staff positions, five less than the previous year. Fire and EMS is budgeted for 79 positions, three more than last year.

The Utilities Department had a net loss of three employees. Eliminations were made for an operations manager, pump station mechanic, two motor equipment operators and two administrative assistants. A general supervisor, and three water services technicians were added. One specialist was transferred to Billing and Collections.

Neighborhood services was downsized the most, with about 30% of its budgeted positions being cut. The departments director position will be split between a fire marshal and another Neighborhood Services employee. A rental housing inspector, permit technician and a plans reviewer were eliminated. Three positions for property maintenance inspectors were also removed.

Elsewhere, Cemeteries and Grounds grew by four positions, Billing and Collections grew by three, Planning lost one, Tourism gained two positions and a newly created Communications department budgeted two employees.

Capital Improvements

Petersburg has so far accumulated $17.4 million for capital projects in this fiscal year. About $6.8 million of that is funded through the first round of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Those ten projects include upgrades like new radio systems for first-responders, rehabs for the Southside Depot and former Social Services building plus a citywide master plan.

A few other noteworthy projects include:

  • Improvements to water and storm water: $6.3 million (several funding sources)

  • Patton Park Trailway: $426,895 (funded by VDOT)

  • Street paving: $1,000,000 (funded by VDOT)

  • City Hall Annex renovation: $400,000 (Capital Reserve)

  • South Crater Road Traffic Signal Improvements: $497,000 (Federal CMAQ program)

Petersburg says it is still looking for grant funding that could help with more further needs.

Schools budget 

Petersburg City Public Schools were again given a transfer of $10 million from the city. The city has elected to give a flat amount of $10 million to the schools since FY 2019-20. The schools requested $11 million last year and this year.

The schools total revenue for the upcoming school year is about $91 million. That includes a hefty dose of federal grants totaling a little over $30 million for recovery from COVID-19. Annual school revenues pre-COVID were around $50 million.

Despite the recovery funds, PCPS said it was still looking for more funding to help finance its capital budget – which includes a new school for at least $26 million – and the possibility of funding year-round schools, which is more expensive than the current model.

Community Development Block Grant

While discussing the budget, Finance Director Stacey Jordan told City Council that Petersburg could lose Community Development Block Grant funds if it doesn’t use all of the money it was granted this year. Jordan said that $277,000 went unused in Fiscal Year 2021-22 and a repeat could lower funds.

The CDBG is a yearly grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development for creating better housing and living environments.

Petersburg’s CDBG funding was previously as high as $1.6 million in 2021. This year’s amount is $628,399, a decrease of about 3,000 over last year. HUD applies these grants on a formulaic basis.

The city’s budget document can be viewed here for the most specific information.

You can reach Sean Jones at [email protected]. Follow him at @SeanJones_PI. Follow The Progress-Index on Twitter at @ProgressIndex.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg FY2022-23 budget includes reduction to real estate taxes