THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412230270
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Changes are well under way under new City Manager Myles E. Standish as the city prepares to tackle some new directions in city policy.
In a work session Wednesday, Standish mentioned several proposed changes the city will be dealing with in the near future, including studies of semiannual tax collection and the creation of a cash proffer system to offset the cost of new development in Suffolk.
Standish, who has held the city's top job for the last month, has said one of his goals is to increase the city's bond rating. Along that line, he suggests the city solicit proposals for a new financial adviser.
``One of the most important aspects of the city's management of its long-term debt is good, objective financial management advice,'' read a handout to the City Council. The handout indicated that, after the first of the year, the city will ask for proposals from private financial advisers.
Standish said that is no indication that current service is flawed.
Suffolk is trying to upgrade its bond rating in order to get better funding for badly needed capital improvements such as the extension of water and sewer service.
Suffolk also is studying semiannual real estate and personal-property tax collections in the city. Standish and others have said the new system could help the city smooth out the tax collection process. A comprehensive analysis of the process is under way, Standish said, and a report with alternatives is to be presented to the council as soon as possible.
Finally, the city is examining whether to create a cash proffer system in Suffolk. Such systems allow cities to ask developers for money that goes to fund schools and other infrastructure that new development affects. The goal is to provide a mechanism to pay for capital improvements using something other than property taxes.
Standish, however, said the city must wait to see what next month's General Assembly session does to the region's ability to request cash proffers. MEMO: The City Council meets the first and third Wednesday of every month, in
council chambers at Suffolk City Hall, 441 Market St. Meetings are
telecast live at 7 p.m. on Municipal Access TV/Channel 13 on Falcon
Cable.
by CNB