The City Council is meeting virtually again this week. Wednesday's meeting will begin with a public hearing on the City's application to the Federal CDBG Grant program. This application combines multiple needs from several City programs and non-profits into a single application. The Council will also be holding a public hearing on the FY2023-FY2027 Capital Improvement Program. The CIP is a planning document used by City staff and departments to develop the annual City budget and project proposals.
The School Department and the City have been working to begin our budget discussions earlier in the year to make decision-making clearer on both sides. In December, we had a School Budget Workshop. This week we are receiving the School Department's preliminary budget. Both the City's and the School Department's upcoming budgets are still in development, but beginning these talks now allows us to work together to better serve our entire City.
Back in September, the Council established the Tax Relief Ad Hoc Committee to study options for a more flexible tax system in Newport and appointed five members of the public to serve on the body. Since then, a few news articles have discussed the Committee's work with City staff to study and weigh different options. The discussions have ranged from studying what other communities around the state are doing to the evaluation of a tiered tax system vs. a homestead exemption. Tax relief for year-round Newport residents has long been a priority of mine, and I am glad that we have a formal body studying this issue. As their work continues, it is imperative to remember that year-round residents are both homeowners and renters; we have to take all Newporters into account. A report is due to the Council soon, and I look forward to reading it and the discussion it inspires.