fy2015 citizen centric report

PROFILE OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, VIRGINIAThe present City of Suffolk was formed January 1, 1974, from the consolidation of the City of Suffolk and the City of Nansemond (formerly Nansemond County). The City is Virginia’s largest city in land area and one of the top fifteen largest cities in land area in the nation with over 400 square miles of land mass and 30 square miles of waterways. The diverse landscape includes a mix of rural, suburban and urban development areas. The City is situated in the western portion of Hampton Roads, Virginia’s coastal plain area, and is bound by the James River to the north, the Cities of Chesapeake and Portsmouth to the east, the State of North Carolina to the south, and the Counties of Southampton and Isle of Wight to the west. The City of Suffolk is one of seven major cities that form the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News metropolitan area with 1.6 million people. This region is also known as the Hampton Roads area. The City’s government is

organized under the Council-Manager form of government. The governing body, the City Council, is composed of seven members and a Mayor who collectively develop policies for the administration of the City. The Mayor is elected at large and each Council Member is elected by borough in a city-wide election every other year, with terms of office being four years. The City Council appoints a City Manager to act as administrative head of the City. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of City Council and carries out the City Council’s policies and directs business procedures. The City Manager also appoints the directors of all departments. As a full service city, Suffolk provides a broad range of municipal services authorized by statute or charter. These services include education, public safety, highways and streets, parks and recreations, sanitation, health and social services, public improvements, planning and zoning, public utilities, storm water management and general administrative.

Population 87,831 89,586Unemployment Rate 6.0% 5.2%Full-Time Equivalent City Employees 1315 1321New and Expanding Businesses** 85(a) 64(b)

Per Capita Income** $41,749(a) $45,390(b)

Median Household Income** $66,085(a) $66,822(b)

3rd Highest in Region ** Most recent data available for New and Expanding Businesses, Per Capita and Median Household Income is Calendar Years 2013(a) and 2014(b)

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FISCAL YEAR FISCAL YEAR 2014 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTSPAGE 1

City Profile and Demographic Information

PAGE 2Performance Accomplishments and Fiscal Year 2015 Revenues

PAGE 3Fiscal Year 2015 Expenses

and Key MeasuresPAGE 4

What’s Next?

A REPORT TO OUR CITIZENS

Fiscal Year 2015

• Achieved the highly acclaimed and much lauded Triple A (AAA) rating following an upgrade by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service on the City’s outstanding general obligation bonds and long term rating, and also received bond upgrades from Moody’s (Aa2 to Aa1) and Fitch (AA+ to AA+ with a positive outlook). Soon after the close of FY15, achieved a second upgrade to AAA by the Fitch Ratings agency.

• Achieved a current 3-year combined real estate and personal property tax collection rate of 99.85%.

• Initiated and implemented a new police body camera program.

• Implemented Libraries Transforming Communities initiative by hosting Community Conversations in different areas of the city with a diverse audience.

• Hosted the First Hampton Roads LogistiXGames in Suffolk.

• Received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) and also received a 2015 Silver Award of Distinction from The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for the City’s Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), the first ever report of this nature produced by the City.

• Revitalized Child Safety Seat Program, training and re-certifying department personnel in installation of child safety seats for citizens.

• Conceptualized, coordinated and produced the First Annual Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival.

• Coordinated the 2014 National Night Out celebration and was awarded the top national honor for our population category marking the third time the City of Suffolk has been first in the nation (2008, 2009, and 2014) and the 9th straight year the City of Suffolk has placed in the top 5 in the Nation for National Night Out.

• Instituted pilot transit routes for Northern Suffolk and for connector service between Downtown, Chesapeake and North Suffolk. The latter service also provides a critical connection to HRT and transit service for the Hampton Roads region.

FISCAL YEAR 2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PERFORMANCE REPORT ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND KEY MEASURES

HOW ARE WE DOING?

GENERAL FUND REVENUE BY SOURCE (IN MILLIONS) FYE 06/30/15

PAGE 2

The City’s financial statements are audited annually by an independent auditor. This audit resulted in a clean audit opinion for Fiscal Year 2015.

What would you like to see reported on this page? Please let us know by contacting the City’s Finance Department at [email protected] or 757-514-7500.

Additional information is available at the City’s web-site, www.suffolkva.us.

THE CITY’S FINANCES

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUDo you like this report? What other information would you like to see contained in this report? Please let us know by contacting the Finance Department at [email protected] or 757-514-7500.

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The City’s Finances

Revenues and Expenditures General Fund Revenue by Source (In Millions) FYE 06/30/15________________________ ____

General Fund Expenditure by Function (In Millions) FYE 06/30/15___________________________

The City’s financial statements are audited annually by an independent auditor. This audit resulted in a clean audit opinion for Fiscal year 2015. Complete financial information can be found on our website at www.suffolkva

General Fund Revenue By Source (In Millions)

Revenue by Source: FY Ending 06/30/2014

FY Ending 06/30/2015

Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes 108.3$ 110.6$ Other Local Taxes 36.1 39.7 Permits, Fees and Regulatory Licenses 1.0 1.1 Fines and forfeitures 0.9 1.0 Revenue from Use of Money and Property 0.6 0.6 Charges for Services 3.5 3.6 Miscellaneous 1.2 1.3 State Revenue 20.0 19.8 Federal Revenue 5.0 5.0 Transfers In 2.5 3.3 Total Revenues 179.1$ 186.0$

General Fund Expenditures by Function (In Millions)

Expenditures by Function: FY Ending 06/30/2014


General Government Administration 14.0$ 14.8$ Judicial Administration 7.3 7.6 Public Safety 48.0 49.0 Public Works 1.3 0.9 Health and Welfare 12.9 12.8 Education 49.1 51.1 Parks, Recreation and Cultural 7.8 9.0 Community Development 7.6 8.6 Nondepartmental 0.5 1.8 Transfers Out - Debt 24.8 26.6 Transfers Out - Other 4.6 5.6 Total Expenditures 177.9$ 187.8$

We want to hear from you

Do you like this report? What other information would you like to see

contained in this report? Please let us know by contacting the Finance

Department at [email protected] or 757-514-7500.

Please see the City’s website at www.suffolkva.us for additional information, including the City’s

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the City Profile and Statistical Digest.

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KEY MEASURES

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BY FUNCTION (IN MILLIONS) FYE 06/30/15

Complete financial information can be found on our website at www.suffolkva.us.

THE CITY’S FINANCES

Please see the City’s website at www.suffolkva.us for additional information, including the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the City Profile and Statistical Digest.

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REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES

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2013 2014

2014 comparison

to projected2015

Projected

Commonwealth Attorney number of community outreach programs attended 71 125 Exceeded 128 Police Emergency 911 - Citizen surveys conducted 240 224 Met 240 Fire Safety House Presentations 35 37 Met 39 Emergency Management - number of training exercises conducted 3 7 Exceeded 7 Health Department, number of males participating in pregnancy planning/prevention programs 232 271 Exceeded 274

Community Outreach

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Community Indicators2013 2014

2014 comparison

to projected2015

Projected

Average Police response times to priority 1 calls (in minutes) 5:47 5:42 Did not meet 5:48Number of Animal Adoptions 849 894 Exceeded 996 Average fire response times (in minutes) 6:36 6:59 Did not meet 6:59Number of Fire/Safety Inspections 818 841 Exceeded 851

Unassigned General Fund Balance Level at/above 12% per city policy 12.6% 14.5% Exceeded 14.3%Number of Participants in Tax Relief Programs (Elderly/Disabled, and Veterans) 1,905 1,908 Met 1,939 Real Estate Tax Collection Rate 97.8% 98.1% Exceeded 98.0%

Circuit Court Number of Civil Cases Closed (numbers reported on the calendar year) 991 1,073 n/a n/aNumber of victims and witnesses assisted by Commonwealth's Attorney office 5,740 5,305 Below 5,464

Tons of Refuse collected annually 33,463 36,542 Exceeded 37,000

Tons of Recycled Refuse collected 5,408 5,713 Exceeded 5,500

Percent of Children with primary health care provider within two months of enrollment 100% 100% Met 100%

Student Enrollment (numbers reported on a school year basis) 14,476 14,365 n/a 14,383 High School Graduation Rate (Four Year Cohort)(numbers reported on a school year basis) 87.2 86.4 n/a 86.2

Ridership 59,012 65,715 Below 71,090

Library Circulation 310,475 327,446 Exceeded 330,000

Percent of inspections performed within 2 business days or less(numbers reported on the calendar year) 99% 99% Met 99%New Residential Building Permits (numbers reported on the calendar year) 545 334 Below 338 Economic Development -- Amount of Capital Investment (In millions)(numbers reported on the calendar Year) $94.0 $116.0 Exceeded $90.0

Public Safety

General Government Administration

Judicial Administration

Public Works

Health and Welfare

Transportation

Parks, Recreation and Cultural

Community Development

Education

The City is committed to being responsible stewards of our taxpayer dollars and will continue to address the strategic needs and priorities of the City through the implementation of cost reduction strategies. A good measure of the City’s ability to cope with unexpected financial challenges or emergencies is the ratio of unassigned General Fund balance as a percentage of the budgeted governmental funds expenditures. The target for this ratio is 12%. The City has exceeded this target by 3.3% for FY2015.

The Economy of Suffolk is continuing to grow as evidenced by the following trends:

• Unemployment is 5.2%, down from 6.0% in the previous year. • Median Home sales price is $251,000, up from $247,800 last year.• Median Household Income is $66,822, up from $66,085 last year.

As the City continues to attract residents and businesses alike to live, work and play within its boundaries, we are challenged with the negative impacts of the 12 miles of railroad tracks which traverse throughout the community. The increased port activity results in long, slow trains that hold up traffic at railroad crossings and adversely affect businesses and residents along the rail corridor. Working with lawmakers to identify and implement funding solutions to address these impacts will continue to be a priority for City leaders.

The Suffolk City Council recently adopted a new vision for the City which sets the course for the City over the next 20 years. Vision 2035 is as follows:

Suffolk is a vibrant and fiscally strong community leading the region in advancements in education, comprehensive transportation, public safety and diverse economic growth while continuing to preserve its rural heritage and enhancing its neighborhoods and urban centers. Throughout 430 square miles of rich land and pristine waterways, citizens and tourists treasure the beautiful trails, rivers and open spaces. Residents, visitors and merchants delight in the revitalized downtown featuring cultural, educational and recreational opportunities. Diverse shopping, businesses and entertainment venues abound. A sense of harmony and pride permeates this rare community, where crime is low; where schools are cutting edge; where people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the City; and where citizens receive valuable services and have opportunities to be engaged. Suffolk is the desired destination of the Hampton Roads Region. The City will achieve this by focusing on the following Priorities:

• Expanded Economic Development• Public Education• Leisure, Health, and Wellness• Transportation• Public Safety• Financial Stability• Growth Management and Comprehensive Planning• Civic Engagement and Responsive Citizen Services

Over the next few months, staff will communicate the Vision and Priorities to the organization, and develop work plans for implementation.

UPCOMING CAPITAL PROJECTSThe City has adopted a ten year Capital Improvement Plan to cover the needed improvements throughout the city.

Some of these improvements include: • New Elementary School• New Middle School• Fire Station 1 Renovations• Public Works Operations and

Maintenance Facility• Bennett’s Creek Recreation Center

• Economic Development efforts brought 448 new jobs to Suffolk.

• New and existing businesses have invested $116 million in creating or expanding business in Suffolk.

• The real estate tax rate of $1.03 per $100 of assessed value is the 2nd lowest in the region.

• School enrollment has increased by 7% over the last 10 years.

THE CITY’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND MOVING FORWARD

IT ’S A GOOD TIME TO BE IN SUFFOLK

ABOUT CITIZEN CENTRIC REPORTINGThe Association of

Government Accountants (AGA) developed guidance on producing Citizen Centric Reporting as a method to demonstrate accountability to residents and answer the question, “Are we better off today than we were last year?” Additional details can be found at the AGA Website: www.agacgfm.org/citizen/

OUR COMMITMENT TO SUFFOLKSuffolk is the fastest growing city in Hampton Roads and is well positioned for continued growth and prosperity. With several positive indicators of growth

in 2015, Suffolk continues to attract new business and investment, create jobs, and provide an invigorating economic climate for expansion. I am very excited about the coming successes of 2016 and beyond! ~ Patrick Roberts, City Manager

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WHAT’S NEXT?

fy2015 citizen centric report

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