NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News City Council unanimously passed the fiscal year 2025 budget Tuesday evening.
$624.3 million of the $1.1 billion plan will go to the general fund, with $123.1 million going to schools and $118.3 million to public safety.
That public safety funding is a highlight, with the city council approving a step plan for police, fire and EMS workers, while funding 12 new single-role paramedic positions. The step plan will give public safety employees a 5% raise, effective July 1. Mayor Phillip Jones says the plan reflects the city’s values.
“We have a budget that invests number one in our public safety,” he told 13News Now. “That is going to be the backbone, the foundation of any great city.”
A number of first responders publicly thanked the council for passing the amendment, with Jessica Collins saying, “you’ve listened to everything we’ve said, you’ve been open to conversations, so we just really appreciate your time and your effort and your understanding.”
While those city employees added to their original pay raise plans, another amendment changed raises for city workers making $174,000 a year or more from 3% to 1.5%. Councilmember Patricia Woodbury alone spoke out against the change in the work session and official meeting.
“When I saw the memo that said these four department heads should get a 1.5 [percent raise] instead of a three, that is interfering in my opinion,” she said during the work session. She argued the amendment, which came from council members, interfered with the city manager’s authority in determining city worker salaries.
Ultimately, that amendment did pass, along with the rest of the budget. It was the only item of the night to not earn a unanimous vote. A third change discussed during the work session was financing for a city council press secretary, with a planned annual salary of $98,844.
The budget also maintains the city’s real estate tax rate of $1.18/$100 in assessed value, though increased assessments will likely mean residents pay more.
One million dollars will go to the city’s collaborative gun violence reduction effort, funded for the third year.
City Manager Alan Archer thanked the council and the budget department for their planning work.
“I look forward to doing it all again next year,” he laughed.