CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – City Council tonight will approve a budget at more than $253-million for fiscal year 2025 that starts July 1. City Manager Sam Sanders has proposed raising the real estate tax by 2-cents per $100 assessed, and the meals and lodging taxes by 1-percent each. He told Morning News a big chunk hitting this year are bringing pay structure up to snuff as a compensation study recommends, combined with implementing collective bargaining for police, fire, and transit. That’s in addition to other priorities Council has set such as affordable housing, transportation, climate action, public safety, etc.

The public hearing and budget vote are the first items on the agenda.