Richmond Budget Hearing

Facing a 34 million dollar deficit, Mayor Jones’ proposed budget includes reductions in a variety of public services but also includes some efficiencies he says will save the city millions, including breaking tax collection into two annual payments and more aggressive collection of delinquent payments.

Mayor Dwight Jones: When you have a public meeting you get a lot of different things, but I’m sensing that people are pretty happy that we were able, in a difficult time, to come out with a balanced budget with as little as pain as we had to inflict.

Marvin Robinson, a resident of the Southside community of Swansboro, was impressed with the administration’s presentation but said he was still concerned about business development.

Robinson: There seems to be a need. A lack of just simple services like a drugstore, cleaners, quality businesses. You have to get in a car and travel so far to go and get those services.

Another public hearing will be held on Monday, March 29th, at the Richmond Public Library, at 101 East Franklin Street at 6 pm. City Council must present amendments to the budget by May 5th and will adopt the budget on May 24th. Craig Carper, WCVE News, Richmond.