LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) \u2014 On Tuesday, the Lynchburg City Council held a budget work session. <\/p>\n
During the session, they touched on the cost of the new LPD headquarters, tax rates, police and school funding, federal funding, and budget adjustments.<\/p>\n
Most councilmembers said they want to invest more in schools, while continuing to decrease debt.<\/p>\n
One idea for bringing in revenue without hitting homeowners too hard came from Councilmember Chris Faraldi: to raise the fees on hotel stays, so folks from outside the city can help cover the costs.<\/p>\n
“Why are we considering tax increases when we could talk about the fees from folks out of town?” Faraldi said. <\/p>\n
SEE ALSO: 25-year-old man found dead from an apparent gunshot wound in Lynchburg home<\/a><\/p>\n His plan would be:<\/p>\n 10% lodging tax$18 nightly lodging feeCut the real estate tax to $.76With the nightly fee, ensuring a sunset clause of a couple of years, where it would automatically cancel <\/p>\n The current proposed budget has the lodging fee set at $1.<\/p>\n Councilmember Sterling Wilder suggested perhaps a mix of a higher than equalized tax rate, combined with other revenue, like the hotel fees.<\/p>\n “Equalize tax rate to about 80 cents with a portion of lodging here. I want to go with something staff are comfortable with,” Wilder said. <\/p>\n SEE ALSO: Family reacts to Lynchburg man charged with murder of Christina Hamilton<\/a><\/p>\n They also want to start paying cash for projects.<\/p>\n “At some point, that needs to stop. Let’s go pay as you go. That’s the way we deal with consumer debt,” Vice Mayor Curt Diemer said. <\/p>\n The start of the meeting was a bit contentious between members over a sign displayed behind Councilman Misjuns.<\/p>\n Councilwoman Stephanie Reed said that the sign was unnecessary.<\/p>\n “I feel like it is starting this work session with a hostile tone. It is an attack on the city manager. It’s a direct attack on the budget he is presenting,” Reed said. <\/p>\n