THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409230259
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The City Council is poised to move forward with a financing plan that would not require using general tax money to cover the city's costs in rebuilding Sandbridge beach.
The council will consider a draft financial package Tuesday that would raise Sandbridge property owners' real estate tax rate by 6 cents and the lodging tax rate by 2 cents the first year, then 4 cents thereafter.
The rest of the money will come from a rebate from the state on the sale of Camp Pendleton property, profits from parking and fishing concessions at Sandbridge and Little Island Park, and lodging taxes already being collected from Sandbridge that are earmarked for projects aimed at boosting tourism.
``The important thing is that all of the money comes from the users of Sandbridge,'' said Councilwoman Barbara M. Henley. ``There was a concern about the taxpayers from Kempsville who didn't want to pay. They won't pay, at least the local share, unless they go down there and park in the lot or fish off the pier.''
The majority of council is expected to give preliminary approval for the financial package this week and set a public hearing on the tax hikes for Oct. 25 and a vote for Nov. 1.
Seventy-five percent of Sandbridge property owners already agreed in a mailed petition to pay higher taxes for the additional sand. Of the 1,660 letters mailed by the city, 1,253 responses were received and only four opposed raising taxes.
A few council members, however, are steadfastly against the sand project. They will not commit taxpayers' money to bail out private property owners who voluntarily assumed the risk of oceanfront living. They argue that federal and state money earmarked for Sandbridge's sand also comes from local taxpayers.
Opponents also say dumping sand on the badly eroding beach is tantamount to throwing money in the ocean.
The 50-year beach nourishment project would result in a 170-foot-wide beach where there is virtually none now. It would be a joint venture with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, funded 65 percent by the federal government and 35 percent by the city. Virginia Beach's share is about $3 million initially and about $1.8 million every two to three years thereafter. The federal share is $6 million initially and $3.5 million thereafter.
The council on Tuesday is also expected to instruct staff to proceed with getting the 243 oceanfront property owners to grant the city easements on their land, making the private beach public. The Corps will not participate unless the beach is legally public.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL by CNB