Virginia Beach opens FY27 budget hearings: what residents can weigh in on before the May vote
Virginia Beach VA – City Council has opened FY27 budget hearings for April 15 and 21, giving residents until May 5 to weigh in before the final vote on May 12.
Virginia Beach has moved its proposed FY 2026-27 budget into the public-comment stage, and the next few weeks are the main window for residents to weigh in before City Council makes final changes.
The city posted its formal hearing schedule on April 6. That sets up public hearings at 6 p.m. on April 15 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center and April 21 at City Hall, followed by a reconciliation workshop on May 5 and a final council vote on May 12.
That timeline matters because the budget is still a proposal, not a final plan. Council members are now taking department questions, public testimony and online feedback before they decide what stays in, what changes and what gets trimmed.
What is in the proposal now
City Manager Patrick Duhaney presented the proposed budget on March 24. The city says it would maintain current service levels while adding a one-time 10.1% personal property tax credit, capped at $80 per vehicle based on assessed value.
For many households, that is the most visible item to watch. The city says the credit would apply to each personal vehicle owned by a Virginia Beach resident if the budget is approved. It is not a permanent rate change, and it has not been adopted yet.
The proposal also includes about a 3.5% salary increase for city positions in July, plus an additional January 2027 increase for non-sworn employees. The city says school staffing would still see reductions tied largely to federal grants that have ended, even as the broader budget aims to keep services in place.
How residents can still comment
Residents who want to speak in person at either hearing have to register with the City Clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of that hearing. Virtual speakers can also take part through Webex, but they must register for the online meeting and still complete the City Clerk sign-up by the same deadline.
For residents who do not want to speak live, the city is also taking budget input online through May 5. The budget portal points people to the city’s feedback tools, including its online balancing exercise and SpeakUp VB platform. The city says all comments submitted there will be provided to City Council.
The city is also holding budget workshops on April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28, when council members question departments about spending plans before the May reconciliation session.
Why this year’s debate matters
This is not just a routine calendar step. Earlier reporting by WHRO showed council entered budget season under real pressure, with staff trying to close funding gaps, manage rising capital costs and discuss whether other revenue options or shifts in dedicated funds might be needed.
WHRO also reported in January that council discussed possible changes involving well-stocked dedicated funds and even a room-fee option tied to short-term rentals. That does not mean those ideas will end up in the final budget, but it does explain why the April hearing window matters: council has already been talking through tradeoffs, and resident feedback is landing before the budget is locked.
For car owners, renters, city workers and residents focused on service levels, the practical takeaway is simple. The key public-input stretch runs now through May 5, and the final vote is scheduled for May 12. After that, the city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year is largely set.
