North Tidewater News

The City of Newport News has introduced a new initiative titled “One City, One Vision – Building A Community-Driven Budget.” This program is designed to collect resident feedback for the upcoming budget planning. Through an online survey, residents can express their priorities for strategic planning, service delivery improvements, and budget resource allocation.

The city aims to promote transparency and inclusivity by encouraging community members to participate in shaping the city's future. The feedback will be crucial in determining key focus areas for the budget, ensuring effective resource allocation to meet residents' needs.

"As your Mayor, I believe that a genuinely effective budget should reflect the priorities and aspirations of our entire community. This initiative is a unique opportunity for each resident to share their vision, helping us direct our resources where they're needed most. Together, we can build a budget that addresses today's needs and invests in a brighter, more prosperous future for Newport News," stated Mayor Phillip Jones.

City Manager Alan K. Archer emphasized the importance of community engagement for governance: "We believe that community engagement is essential for effective governance. This initiative not only allows us to hear directly from our residents but also empowers them to take an active role in the budget process. Successive phases of the engagement process will include a citizen budget portal on the City’s website and in-person and virtual community meetings."

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey regarding city services and programs important to them. The survey will remain open until January 15, 2025, with all responses kept confidential. Residents can access the survey via a provided link or QR code.