SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Suffolk’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget as it currently stands calls for no changes in the city’s $1.09 real estate tax rate, though Suffolk City Council wants to look at a possible two-cent decrease in the rate, to $1.07 (per $100 in assessed value).

After a presentation on the proposed budget on Wednesday from Assistant Director of Finance-Budget Charles Meek, council voted unanimously to ask City Manager Albert Moor II to adjust the $888.2 million operating budget/capital improvement program to incorporate the potential rate change. The two-cent decrease would lead to about a $3 million reduction in revenue.

Suffolk’s FY25 proposed budget summary (Via City of Suffolk)

This comes after the city reported more than $21.3 million in increased revenue compared to last year.

Mayor Mike Duman said that growth leaves the city in an “enviable position” to allocate about $83 million this toward capital improvement projects and give city employees a cost-of-living adjustment of 4%, but citizens need some form of tax relief.

There was nearly a 3% increase in residential assessments on average citywide compared to last year.

The current proposed budget meanwhile has no fee changes to refuse ($25.25 per month) and stormwater ($7.50 per month). The city will instead use debt service and money in its refuse fund.

Info on Suffolk’s proposed stormwater and refuse rates for FY25 (Courtesy of City of Suffolk)

The budget also includes a “modest” increase in the average water/sewer bill for city residents (about $2.95 per month on average for a total of about $109 per month).

Projected water rate numbers for Suffolk in its FY25 budget (Courtesy of City of Suffolk)

In addition to the 4% wage for city employees, Moor’s plan calls for a step plan increase for public safety employees. There’s also funding allocated for 44 new positions citywide, including eight for Suffolk Fire-Rescue, seven at the Suffolk Police Department, six at emergency communications and one for the sheriff’s office.

There’s also more than $4 million in new funding for Suffolk Public Schools operations (totaling $75.3 million) and $28.6 in capital funding for the JFK Middle replacement project ($25M) and Northern Shores Elementary addition ($3.6M).

The city will next hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on April 17 and a public hearing on the real estate rate on May 1.

You can see the full proposed budget here and watch Meek’s presentation here.