North Tidewater News

Hampton residents and stakeholders are being given the opportunity to contribute their ideas to the city budget before it is drafted. City Manager Mary Bunting will be offering both in-person and online opportunities for residents to participate.

City Council will be discussing the issues and priorities on Wednesday, February 28th, and after that, residents will be invited to add their requests, priorities, and views. In-person meetings will be held on Thursday, March 7th, at 6:30 p.m. at Bethel High School, and on Saturday, March 9th, at 9 a.m. at Kecoughtan High School. These meetings will not only allow residents to ask questions but also to use keypad polling to register their priorities.

For those who prefer to ask questions from the comfort of their homes, City Manager Mary Bunting will be hosting a Facebook Live session on Tuesday, March 12th, at 6:30 p.m. on Hampton's Facebook page.

After gathering input from the community, City Manager Mary Bunting will release the Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 on April 15th. Residents will once again have the opportunity to react to the proposal at City Council public hearings on April 24th and May 1st. The final City Council vote on the budget will take place on May 8th.

All City Council hearings will be held during regular legislative meetings at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the 8th floor of City Hall, located at 22 Lincoln St. Residents who wish to speak at these hearings can find information and guidelines on the city's website.

This unique budget process in Hampton allows residents to have a direct impact on the city's budget by sharing their thoughts and helping to shape their community. City Manager Mary Bunting encourages all residents to take advantage of this opportunity and contribute to the decision-making process.