At the Oct. 28 Virginia City Council meeting, several residents urged elected leaders to address the city’s long-term bond obligations and their effect on the proposed levy.

Greg Lindsey walked councilors through a list of outstanding bonds and told the council, “So this debt is driving our levy.” He said overlapping and ongoing bond debt will increase property taxes and urged the council to take substantive steps beyond incremental reductions.

The mayor and councilors said the issue is on the budget committee’s agenda and that staff and the council are discussing trade-offs between infrastructure investment, service levels and property taxes. Councilor Beyondich moved and councilors supported scheduling the next budget meeting for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4; the motion carried.

Council members said they hear residents’ concerns and will continue the discussion in the budget process rather than in general session. The mayor reminded residents the council must weigh infrastructure, public safety and long-term debt when setting the levy.