November 18, 2012
It's an unexpected situation for the City of Charlottesville, one that many cities wish to be in. City council is preparing to talk about a nearly $4 million budget surplus.
"I think it's in the ballpark of around $3.8 million. That is a consequence of savings, of departments being frugal, not spending all of their budget items, as well as some unexpected revenue," said city councilor Dede Smith.
"A minority of those funds, we will fund some one-time budget items. Perhaps, things that were in people's budgets but didn't have the money to do it. But it's important that it be one time because this is a one-time surplus," she said.
Smith says most of the money will go in the capital improvement fund, which helps fund big projects. Ones that the city would not be able to consider at all, if they didn't have the means to do it.
"Particularly projects that relate to some of our science and technology infrastructures in our schools," said Smith.
The unexpected revenue, she says, comes from meal, lodging and sales taxes.
"Those kinds of things that have to do with people coming to Charlottesville and enjoying Charlottesville. And that is why these other budget items are so important. We want Charlottesville to be an attractive place for people to live and visit."
City council will decide exactly where the surplus money will go at its meeting Monday night.
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