In a Tuesday, May 14 meeting, Virginia Beach City Council approved a municipal budget, including funding for schools, that will allow the school system to implement a 3 percent salary increase for all eligible employees (2 percent to base salaries and 1 percent to the required Virginia Retirement System contribution), effective September 1.

Further details on executing this salary increase will be forthcoming from the departments of Budget and Finance and Human Resources in the near future.

Another notable action by the Virginia Beach City Council was a reduction to the property tax from 95 cents per $100 to 93 cents per $100. While property taxes are a major revenue stream under the city-schools revenue sharing formula, Council’s decision was that this reduction would be executed in a way that will not negatively impact Virginia Beach City Public Schools in the future.