CHESAPEAKE — A host of city and Chesapeake Public Schools’ projects will get a boost in their fiscal budget thanks to an influx of state and federal funding.
City Council at Tuesday’s meeting approved a slew of amendments to the fiscal 2025 budget that begins July 1, primarily increasing funding for capital improvement projects addressing infrastructure, enhanced connectivity and walkability and traffic improvements.
The biggest boost is roughly $28 million for local schools. The additional funding includes bonds from the Virginia Public School Authority, state revenue and city funds. The council also expedited the construction of a $66.7 million elementary school at the Culpepper Landing site. The project was one of several city staff said became more expensive due to an increased cost of providing services and bidding for projects.
Nearly $12 million of those additional funds will go toward the schools’ operating fund for an at-risk program, additional English Learner teachers, an elementary school resource officer deputy and high school security officers, according to a memo from city staff. A total of $5 million will be allocated to the schools’ Athletic Fund.
Chesapeake Budget Director Jonathan Hobbs said Tuesday the amendments can be attributed to additional funding through the state’s adopted fiscal budget and grant awards. The state budget has funding formulas for local schools and the sheriff’s office, for example, that can impact allocations in municipal government budgets, resulting in the need for amendments.
A few new projects are now feasible thanks to a mix of roughly $6 million in state and grant funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation and Federal Railway Administration as well as about $1.7 million of city funds and the South Norfolk Tax Increment Financing district, where a share of taxes are earmarked specifically for projects in South Norfolk. Those include sidewalk connections on Great Bridge Boulevard from Oscar Smith Middle School to River Walk Parkway and on Cedar Road between WalMart and Cedar Lakes Drive. Multi-use path conversions and connections will be made along Gum Road near Portsmouth Boulevard and along Cedar Road between the Veterans Bridge and Tidewater Community College.
A Federal Railway Administration grant and funding from the city’s South Norfolk TIF will go toward the exploration of possible solutions and an Environmental Protection Agency review of the Portlock Road Railroad Overpass Bridge.
Some transfers in the fiscal budget will also help with intersection improvements on Battlefield Boulevard at Great Bridge Boulevard and Kempsville Road, Oaklette Bridge replacement and repairs and Northwest River Park improvements. At the park, work includes replacing the ranger station, camp store shop and interpretive center.
A few of the city’s existing capital projects received additional funding that will help completion. Among those is a stormwater mapping project and the Goose Creek master drainage plan, right-of-way acquisitions and turn lanes and signal modifications at Hanbury Road at Johnstown Road.
Other budget amendments were more minor, including the addition of one full-time employee and increased funding for the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office as well as allocations to the Airport Authority, Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office, Hampton Roads Transit, Public Works and the Department of Social Services.
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
