Happy New Year! I hope that you were able to enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season. There is a lot coming up this year for the City Council to work on with participation and input from all the residents of Newport. We will be considering the North End Urban Plan this month and will likely hold the vote on approval on the Plan by February. The zoning ordinances to accompany the Plan are also in development and should be before the Council in the beginning of the year. A Midyear Budget Review Workshop is coming up this month, so that both the Council and the public can discuss the status of our City budget. This workshop should also serve as a jumping off point for shaping the coming year’s budget to ensure that it reflects our community’s values and priorities.
I have been adamant in my belief that the City Council needs to examine our tax structure to allow for more tools and increased flexibility to aid us in working to maintain a strong year-round community. This can be done in the form of a Homestead Exemption, a Tiered Tax structure, or something else, but we cannot let this task linger. In June the Council passed a resolution directing the City Manager to work with staff to prepare multiple options for how a Homestead Exemption could be implemented and report back to the Council in December. It is now January and the Council has still not received a report.
I will be submitting a resolution for our first Council meeting in January, the 12th, insisting that the Council be given the report and that a workshop be scheduled ASAP for both Council and public participation. I hope that the full Council will support this action so the point is clearly made that this is a priority and that the City Manager will make sure to get us the report quickly. Making a change to our tax structure would affect all of our residents, so any conversations and discussion that take place need to be held publicly. The Council is meant to act in the public’s best interest, so it is paramount that we take the time to elicit public input and feedback throughout this process.
As we begin the new year, I will continue to ensure that all residents of Newport know what is happening in our City and how you can participate and make your voice be heard. I hope that you continue to find this newsletter a useful resource, and as always, please feel free to contact me.