[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6610263,"mediaKeyId","2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec","parentId",2904931,"title","City finance director warns federal funding shifts could affect FY 2026 budget","audioSeconds",223,"startMs",487000,"endMs",710000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec&start=487&end=710","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec/thumbnail_487000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610263/Virginia/City-finance-director-warns-federal-funding-shifts-could-affect-FY-2026-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610263-06fa4ff31fdb2cf3dd51caed79909c5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144414&Signature=Z1evHFIs3yM~cmNklvDqtB4WyJ7A~GOG7u35smH9s29L1~i-LaX5g4fVpARzpEtMCnhxBlVU9hGDzhpljE1lSZ4wuzXOKLQv9UTaQfkXQmccvNJn7vYL~4OTiKMXMoKVU329vTSyPwB5jKTtoAZoIwxygy8030uhiDaDifla3GTZ8KKWZPefe0aR-LG9xK1VeVvhlFU1YkYuuqLJebmcHm81ugLj6NDNAuTi1FvGzgf4vc94GEM-IrHGBrP9aKBwOiVtHpn6OTu7H44MZXmZipo3oHSj3eu3im~r6OTYIo4fFpuW010tZYuokgdE48RSKckTSPt4j5ZkCogymJ1pPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newport News (Sugggested)","date","2025-04-08T23:17:31.583Z","article","Virginia Lovell, Director of Finance for the City of Newport News, told the city council on April 8 that changes at the federal level could affect the city's FY 2026 operating and capital budgets.

Lovell said the new administration has issued a large number of executive orders and an early Office of Management and Budget memo that briefly proposed a temporary freeze on federal financial awards. \"Ultimately that order was challenged in court and rescinded, but the federal administration continues to signal their intent, to pause or eliminate funding for programs that don't align with the president's priorities,\" she said.

The nut graf: Lovell framed the potential exposure quickly: major programs that supply federal dollars to Newport News' operations include Health and Human Services, USDA, HUD, the Department of Justice and FEMA; DOT funding supports most street and bridge capital projects. If federal awards change, the city would focus on meeting legal obligations and preserving core services.

Lovell outlined where federal receipts appear in the recommended FY 2026 budget. She said \"there are over 300 positions in the city that are partially or fully funded by federal funds.\" She named human-services programs (TANF, SNAP, Medicaid), HUD-supported public housing and affordable housing programs, DOJ and FEMA grants for equipment and training for fire and police, and victim-witness funding. Lovell said the city's recommended budget assumes roughly $76,000,000 in consumer-sensitive revenues tied to local employment and economic activity that could be affected if federal policy reduced jobs at major employers such as Jefferson Lab, the Hampton VA medical center and NASA.

Council members asked for timing and contingency information. Lovell said precise impacts will depend on the federal budget process and on whether particular grants contain enforceable agreements or conditions. A city attorney present said remedies or clawbacks \"will depend on the legislation surrounding the grant and whether there's that ability to to claw it back. So it's really gonna be case specific.\"

Lovell said the capital-improvement program already includes tracking of all projects with federal funds so staff know which projects are in design versus construction and where city funding might be needed if federal awards were reduced. \"We're hopeful those funds don't get pulled back on projects that are already substantially in construction. If it's in design, we'll have to come back to the table and have that discussion as a broader city, with the CIP on where those would fall in priority for city funding,\" she said.

On public-safety grants, Lovell described multiple FEMA awards that support equipment and training and cited victim-witness program funding. \"So it's a little over about a million dollars per year that we receive there,\" she said; council members were later told one grant covers a majority of staffing (\"over 20 positions\") in the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.

The city manager and council also discussed federal lobbying and a planned delegation trip to Washington, D.C., to discuss Jefferson Lab, DOE contracts and other federal priorities. Lovell closed by saying the budget will be implemented conservatively and staff will monitor federal actions closely and \"may need to reallocate resources, to make sure that we can maintain our critical operations.\"

Less critical details: council members asked about specific capital projects including the Denbigh Interchange; city staff said VDOT and the city had not been notified of any delays.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newport News City Council Work Session 04-08-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Virginia Lovell, Director of Finance for the City of Newport News, told the city council on April 8 that changes at the federal level could affect the FY 2026 operating and capital budgets, particularly grants that fund human services, public-housing maintenance, public-safety equipment and transportation projects.","taxTitle","Newport News (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",12491,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6610244,"Council approves sponsorships, contingency items and a small community grant; motions pass unanimously",2980,3198000,6178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec&start=3198&end=6178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec/thumbnail_3198000.jpg","/articles/6610244/Virginia/Council-approves-sponsorships-contingency-items-and-a-small-community-grant-motions-pass-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610244-a3e2e31dc0947485f712aa07ba3df3e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144414&Signature=WWfm0afPx1r~lVZLWC31PAC8lRVLE-WOxKhzbBkjY5-BbAOYyaqS9OR06JxNL7A9KqiXCnt6KIIK7RW24j2dK5lJekk5zV9qwz6spZJISVLcJJS6rHXJrPQg~gPL5s-ETXoqwfb2YgWbvGp5Q~B1aWyqDCKqcDV6tSdgCWSBsCaztaMFePjzvFMN5L2pHipttECOsCYMDyHYJdRkf5s4PN5qIGYky5dOuvlnjEMfhESlncVNlTYIRUjPI9S81GsjYpRSk7PdrW4mjo-sxU-SY7-1Bc79uSpI5yKR7vwGnb9b7B8z-DveTJ1cJwlG9eN7tTcNa-6t06l9C38Vi~aywg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newport News City Council recorded several formal motions and roll-call votes during the April 8 work session. All recorded motions passed unanimously (6-0) according to the meeting roll calls.

The nut graf: The council approved two council-contingency items and one small community allocation during the session: approval related to a \"Crimson Thunder\" matter from Councilman Ealy (motion carried 6-0), title sponsorship for the NNPD Friends of the Badge breakfast at $10,000 (motion carried 6-0), and a $3,000 allocation for the Books on Bikes program sponsored by Councilman Harris (motion carried 6-0). The council also voted to enter a closed session under the Code of Virginia and later certified the closed meeting.

Votes at a glance (as recorded by roll call):

- Approval tied to Councilman Ealy (\"Crimson Thunder\" signature request): roll-call recorded Councilwoman Vick: yes; Vice Mayor Bethany: yes; Councilman Ealy: yes; Councilman Harris: yes; Mayor Jones: yes; Councilman Long: yes. Motion carried, 6-0.

- Title sponsor for the NNPD Friends of the Badge breakfast ($10,000): roll-call recorded Councilwoman Vick: yes; Vice Mayor Bethany: yes; Councilman Ealy: yes; Councilman Harris: yes; Mayor Jones: yes; Councilman Long: yes. Motion carried, 6-0.

- Motion to go into closed session under Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia (personnel and disposition of real property matters): roll-call recorded unanimous support; motion carried, 6-0. The council later certified the closed session by roll call (motion carried, 6-0).

- Books on Bikes allocation ($3,000), sponsored by Councilman Harris: roll-call recorded unanimous support; motion carried, 6-0.

Procedural notes: the transcript did not attribute specific mover and seconder names for these motions in the recorded text; where the transcript listed \"So moved\" and \"Second,\" it did not name the individuals. All roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript and are reported here exactly as read into the record.

","The Newport News City Council unanimously approved several contingency and community-sponsorship items during its April 8 work session, according to roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6610249,"Assessor reports 3.76% citywide reassessment; homeowners' appeals begin April 14",645,2408000,3053000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec&start=2408&end=3053","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec/thumbnail_2408000.jpg","/articles/6610249/Virginia/Assessor-reports-376-citywide-reassessment-homeowners-appeals-begin-April-14","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610249-cf0bf199727154b81a1bf276f8d5a6b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144414&Signature=I9~1CTvRO3VdIQxTJ4JSXh2Hyln22HPITXd8I6NU4FEY3ZdHVD8CrWK4aF3-iGq3GoC9~l5xHBLvVeuJa-cD5M4dw90r3qZMrLOctl5EsmchZGUctQ9ac3z0D2pF2VYVN6z0UPmvMhpKw1wou3DuCWdEeJMdSC47S28lQ9T7H7UiBRDzHlR3YMDg7Sq-MxdnHHL5d4aHO4cH5J4z~mcgygsVJpibJZDe7UcJfuMR-Xct8ypEKAnwI9qWVlX76CAkk01hUbKN9I0ak8nBo0wR6rLTjFk59drUzNHtPe3eoEMuaGiNILw4iljDAYB0Zi8-QGaFO4Q0zFqc83Qwzt-Hpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Fountain, City Assessor for Newport News, presented an overview of the FY 2026 property reassessment to the council on April 8 and outlined appeal timelines and market methods.

Fountain said reassessment is required by the Code of Virginia and the proposed overall change in taxable value is an increase of 3.76% across the city. \"The total FY 20 26 proposed reassessment represents an overall increase of 3.76%,\" he said. He explained the appraisal staff used the cost, sales-comparison and income approaches and that the market study period covered sales from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

The nut graf: Fountain and residential supervisor Mark Beasley gave specifics for housing markets: the city has about 49,100 residential parcels; the proposed median assessed value rises to $272,300 from $259,100 (a $13,200 increase). Beasley said average residential increases for single-unit homes were about 4.84% and condos about 6.21%; the residential assessment ratio was about 99.3% of market value.

Fountain said informal office hearings are scheduled April 14'18 and that formal board-of-equalization applications are due Sept. 1, 2025. Beasley described the typical appeal process: a phone call or office visit, a possible no-cost site inspection and a review of comparable sales. He said the appraisal staff typically handles only a few dozen informal residential hearings in most years and that the staff will correct assessments when warranted.

Commercial appraisal supervisor Mike Edwards summarized the non-residential picture. He said apartment values rose about 2.5% and represent approximately $3.3 billion in assessed value. Industrial property values rose about 4.5% while commercial (retail/office) values were relatively flat (up 0.3) amid higher office vacancies.

Less critical details: Edwards referenced a University of Virginia-affiliated data series (Baldwin Cooper) showing taxable sales up about 1.6% in 2024 and noted grocery and general-merchandise categories were the largest contributors.

","City Assessor John Fountain and appraisal supervisors Mark Beasley and Mike Edwards summarized the FY 2026 reassessment: a proposed 3.76% overall increase in total assessed value, a residential median rising to $272,300, and informal hearings scheduled April 14'18 for property owners seeking review.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6610254,"City's new community-violence prevention manager outlines plan to coordinate interventions and measure impact",738,1536000,2274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec&start=1536&end=2274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec/thumbnail_1536000.jpg","/articles/6610254/Virginia/Citys-new-community-violence-prevention-manager-outlines-plan-to-coordinate-interventions-and-measure-impact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610254-adf778036f2db0796ed62425db1c9d0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144414&Signature=cjfDxHZhf4LVtE3NnTBsSVaR3O6AaRTKXASSOxzIXMUra5wFKNcheiET0ak1LP-Edt-uJxQRLMBw8JLlmYmuILESPMd0ApCKwnte7v7rMfTIc7uY4hjohsGTNtfyQU3~6tQuDvg3gNzQv3-TNauql8D92couzC3vx1Uk3sOnS1XQZmMRbKtcqfceD5COOLnIFlR4wqZvXP492MbDdg-WjOXH48tE9TTS2bbsWiZK3iryDRJArUQnUl81lQxtMntBsEeQKTnpqv5xlgmSpB76IJ-VK1TBaVuIF~36NSp-rVejnIQc0WaG8JSs7m3O0vUZFEqfrQ72Y~rtwlsGQIpkWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sanithia White, Community Violence Prevention Manager for the City of Newport News, briefed the council on April 8 about work to coordinate the city's community violence intervention (CVI) ecosystem and to develop data-driven measures of program impact.

White described CVI as \"connecting those who have the closest relationships to those who are or present the greatest risk of being impacted by violence or those who are already actively engaged in violence.\" Her goal is to strengthen organizational capacity, streamline referrals and establish assessment measures that show whether interventions make people better off.

The nut graf: White said the strategy will prioritize targeted prevention and intervention in areas of highest need, connect credible messengers and hospital-based violence-intervention programs, and ensure funded organizations can demonstrate outcomes with quantitative and qualitative data.

White said she has held more than 35 meetings with individual organizations and completed a community conversation series to gather \"collective insight\" on gaps and coordination needs. Next steps she listed include hiring a services liaison and a family services specialist to improve continuity of services from intervention to family-level supports. She said data collection and evaluation will be central: \"At the end of the day we want to say is anyone any better off and so as we work with the organizations we will be very very intentional to make sure that we'll be able to answer that question at some level,\" White said.

Council members asked about linking existing programs such as the gun-violence intervention program and hospital-based initiatives; White said those elements are part of the ecosystem graphic she provided and that the office will intentionally meet with both funded and non-funded organizations to identify capacity and referral gaps.

Less critical details: White observed that domestic violence increased nationwide during COVID and that the city's gun-violence work frequently involves people who know each other rather than random acts; she said she will coordinate with police and other public-safety partners when cases cross program boundaries.

","Sanithia White, Community Violence Prevention Manager, described efforts to connect intervention providers, build organizational capacity and develop data-driven metrics; she proposed hiring a services liaison and a family services specialist to improve continuity of care and help organizations document outcomes.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6610259,"City implements public-safety step plan and general pay-scale changes for FY 2026 implementation",321,1199000,1520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec&start=1199&end=1520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904931-108016466c9d9b78495b0e4ea9783aec/thumbnail_1199000.jpg","/articles/6610259/Virginia/City-implements-public-safety-step-plan-and-general-pay-scale-changes-for-FY-2026-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610259-b560688a3957de9bbe25bc2e91ff6e0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144414&Signature=F8D6bQBuz2SALdUnuvFhaFp1yNsgvAevxXYN~W01fT3~~v7HUp~7yJQ7xQGryU4H4L59XKNT-IB0VguBpF1XMT-Ku8hryiDITfUN7HVklZkIWE5HDTDHgRenInHFuOfweXTStOOm2KLabe2fMyFbfy8EkihoIsnveu7EiORZrrQMtwUgCP0U0oBcE9Lr7WNz7b0ImAbeNNN~5BDR0BnpxoDHCWL35SEfyRh4bWsqWGj67pfLpxy0hAveaBykO1vBBvwtCNE6QsSg76tSjBEwYuDfmW5iPq2xP7i3IHFzEmtebaf6GgcCWtMN~eAB8lAssWIEIF8o119lZn4efTSkOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allison DeChoso, Director of Human Resources for the City of Newport News, told the council on April 8 that the city has implemented two major compensation initiatives affecting sworn and non-sworn employees.

DeChoso said the public-safety step plan went into effect in November and \"over 900 sworn employees were impacted, dollars 4,355,000 in salary increases were implemented, and the average increase to sworn officers who received, an additional amount of money was 8.5%.\" The change affected police, fire and sheriff personnel.

The nut graf: DeChoso said phase two of the compensation project moved roughly 2,000 non-sworn employees onto a new broadband pay scale, used market-based pricing and added targeted programs to fill critical needs.

On the general pay plan, DeChoso said the broadband structure went into effect March 31 and \"dollars 2,055,000 in salary increases have been implemented, and for those employees that had to be adjusted to the new the new minimums of the new structure, the average increase was 7.5%.\" She also said the city has implemented a multi-year wage program totaling 16% in adjustments over three years and proposed a 3% general wage increase for eligible non-sworn employees in the upcoming year.

DeChoso described new recruitment and retention tools, including a \"breakthrough bonus program\" for commercial driver's-license holders. She said more than 50 employees were hired or referred under the bonus program in its first year.

Council members asked about the potential budget impact of collective bargaining and vacancies. DeChoso said the council will receive the collective-bargaining task force's input later this year, and she cautioned that bargaining could increase administrative costs and contract obligations; staff will approach compensation decisions conservatively amid federal and economic uncertainty.

Less critical details: DeChoso said the city made targeted pay adjustments for the Commonwealth's Attorney and Public Defender's offices and invited follow-up on vacancy specifics during budget discussions.

","Human Resources Director Allison DeChoso briefed the council on recently implemented pay changes: a public-safety step plan affecting over 900 sworn employees and a phase-two general employee pay plan that moved 2,000 non-sworn employees to a broadband structure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City finance director warns federal funding shifts could affect FY 2026 budget

Council approves sponsorships, contingency items and a small community grant; motions pass unanimously

Assessor reports 3.76% citywide reassessment; homeowners' appeals begin April 14

City's new community-violence prevention manager outlines plan to coordinate interventions and measure impact

City implements public-safety step plan and general pay-scale changes for FY 2026 implementation