On March 14, 2023 City Manager Wynter C. Benda proposed the FY 2024 Budget, “Moving Lynchburg Forward,” to Lynchburg City Council for deliberation and adoption. Throughout the spring, City Council engaged in dialogue with staff and citizens, with the first reading of the budget on May 9th. Council will vote again to approve the budget on Tuesday, May 23rd at 7:30 PM.
The proposed budget, across 17 City departments, is organized by City Council priorities: Public Safety, Infrastructure, Lifelong Learning, Economic Development and Quality of Life.
This year’s budget includes a number of important initiatives, including, but not limited to:
- An ongoing and meaningful investment in the City’s workforce with a 5% General Wage Increase for non-sworn employees
- Tax relief for residents and businesses including waiver of refuse collection fee for one year, waiver of the motor vehicle license fee for one year, lowering the business license tax rate, and lowering the real estate tax rate to $0.89/$100
- An unprecedented investment in public safety to include implementation of a new pay progression and compression plan for public safety in fire and police, new positions in police, fire, sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney and circuit court clerk, implementation of strategic compensation for 911 emergency services, and three new positions in IT to address cybersecurity and administer public safety technology systems
- A fully-funded Capital Improvement Program to complete construction on the new police headquarters, renovation of the Lynchburg Public Library, a new transfer station for refuse, and investment in parks & trails systems
- Additional FTEs in Human Services, Human Resources, Community Development, and Public Works (Refuse)
Specifically in the area of Economic Development, the City’s budget includes:
- Refocus of one FTE for business development, real estate and business attraction
- Engineering and infrastructure support for industrial site development
- Continued support for the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
- Ongoing support for:
– Local Redevelopment Program to support small business investments
– Sales marketing to recruit sporting events and meetings and conferences
– Destination development marketing for talent attraction and to drive visitor spending into local businesses
All information, including questions and answers by Council and staff, are posted to the City’s website here. City Council meetings are streamed on the City’s website and Facebook page. Citizens wishing to speak to City Council may sign up for public comment during any formal City Council meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month by emailing the Clerk of Council, Alicia Finney.