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City Council to Address Liberty Place, FY 2017 Budget at April 26 Meetings

by | Apr 26, 2016 | Government

By Susan Larson. File photo by Fredericksburg Today.

City Council will meet with the developer of the proposed Liberty Town mixed-use project during their Tuesday, April 26, work session. The meeting with Tom Wack begins at 5:30 p.m. in suite 218 at City Hall, 715 Princess Anne St. Enter the building at the south side door. Also on the work session agenda is a presentation about establishing a trust other post-employment benefits (OPEB).

Wack, president of Wack General Contractor, asked City Council during its March 8 work session for a 45 percent reduction of Liberty Place’s real estate tax bill for the next 10 years.

The April 12 public hearing on the incentive package was postponed because the developer announced plans to submit a revised plan for the $46.3 million project in the former Free Lance-Star Executive Building Property in the block bordered by Douglas, Winchester, William and Amelia streets in downtown Fredericksburg. This came after some members of City Council told Wack they didn’t like his design, because it didn’t fit the historic character of the city. The public hearing is still postponed, but might be taken up at the May 10 City Council meeting.

City Council will have its first vote on the FY 2017 budget during Tuesday night’s regular session, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers. The second read and final approval is scheduled for the May 10 council meeting.

Read more: FY 2017 Operating and Capital Budget Resolution

The $90 million budget as currently proposed does not include any increases in fees or tax rates, but the city has since advertised a tax rate of 79 cents, a 2.6 percent increase. The increase could be used to help fund the school board’s request for an additional $734,492 in city funds.

A public hearing on the increase will be held during the May 10 city council meeting. If the higher rate is approved, the FY 2017 budget would be adjusted, Budget Manager Deidre Jett said.

City Council’s regular sessions are televised live on Cox Channel 84 and Verizon Channel 42, and rebroadcast on Wednesday at noon and on Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Live and rebroadcasted meetings are available online at Regional WebTV.

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City Council to Address Liberty Place, FY 2017 Budget at April 26 Meetings

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