VIRGINIA BEACH — Residents could influence a future decision on collective bargaining for city employees by casting a vote on Election Day.

Mayor Bobby Dyer said Tuesday he wants an advisory referendum on collective bargaining on the November ballot. The outcome of such a referendum would be non-binding.

The City Council denied collective bargaining of city employees in a 5-5 vote with one abstention April 30. Dyer was among those who voted against it.

“Last week we had a divisive subject on collective bargaining,” said Dyer at Tuesday’s meeting. “How do we really confront this in a way that we are capable of doing?”

Dyer had said before the vote that the timing wasn’t right due to the potential costs, but he supported a more enhanced “meet and confer” process than what currently exists, which would require communication with the council.

Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services and public works personnel wanted to negotiate better wages and enhanced employment conditions. The city received certification from a majority of public employees in a unit requesting collective bargaining in February, requiring a formal vote on the matter.

It’s likely the council will have to take up collective bargaining again. Other employee groups can trigger a council vote again by presenting certification from a majority of it public employees, according to union representatives.

To get the referendum on the ballot, it will require a majority vote from the council. Dyer plans to bring it up for a discussion and a vote after the budget is approved this month, he said.

The light rail referendum that failed in 2016 was also advisory.

Dyer also said Tuesday he plans to ask for the city to commission a collective bargaining analysis that could be presented before November.

“This would give us the opportunity to get information out to the public to bring them into the decision loop,” the mayor said.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com

It’s a tough time to be in the market for a new house. But as peak homebuying season begins, homebuyers are starting to have at least some negotiating power—especially in markets that recorded large price growth over the last few years.

The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November 2022, the highest level in more than a decade, as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rates to combat inflation. Today, rates remain at historic highs; even half of a percentage point change can significantly affect the monthly payments required for a mortgage.

Since mortgage rates were under 4% for the better part of the past decade, many homebuyers locked in far more affordable rates than what’s available in today’s environment. And sellers aren’t exactly coming down on price: Nationally, home prices are still increasing—just more slowly than they did during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nationally, the median home sale price in March was $420,321, 4.8% higher than the year before. In Virginia, the median sale price was $432,000, while the average price difference was 0.02% below asking.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Virginia where homes typically sell below list price using data from Redfin.

#9. Spotsylvania County

– Average price difference: 0.08% below list
— Median list price: $449,000
— Median sale price: $445,000
– Total homes sold: 141
— Share that sold above list: 41.8%

#8. James City County

– Average price difference: 0.10% below list
— Median list price: $499,999
— Median sale price: $420,000
– Total homes sold: 111
— Share that sold above list: 33.3%

#7. Suffolk

– Average price difference: 0.14% below list
— Median list price: $420,000
— Median sale price: $394,399
– Total homes sold: 165
— Share that sold above list: 40.0%

#6. Virginia Beach

– Average price difference: 0.15% below list
— Median list price: $369,950
— Median sale price: $370,000
– Total homes sold: 465
— Share that sold above list: 44.9%

#5. Norfolk

– Average price difference: 0.41% below list
— Median list price: $315,000
— Median sale price: $303,250
– Total homes sold: 290
— Share that sold above list: 39.0%

#4. Augusta County

– Average price difference: 0.91% below list
— Median list price: $309,900
— Median sale price: $289,900
– Total homes sold: 123
— Share that sold above list: 36.6%

#3. Roanoke County

– Average price difference: 1.02% below list
— Median list price: $292,500
— Median sale price: $245,000
– Total homes sold: 239
— Share that sold above list: 33.9%

#2. Portsmouth

– Average price difference: 1.04% below list
— Median list price: $260,000
— Median sale price: $257,250
– Total homes sold: 136
— Share that sold above list: 43.4%

#1. Frederick County

– Average price difference: 1.12% below list
— Median list price: $439,900
— Median sale price: $426,500
– Total homes sold: 160
— Share that sold above list: 21.2%

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 28 states.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A crisis on college campuses around the country.

A new Wiley research study published this year shows more than 80% of college students say they’re struggling emotionally.

When Jilly Riccio was in high school, she lost her close friend Jamison Novello in a way she never imagined.

“One of my friends died by suicide. That’s why it struck a chord and stuck with me, and that’s why I’ve been so passionate about it.”

During that time, Riccio was a part of her school’s SAFE Club — a way to talk openly about suicide, and mental health. But when she got to Virginia Tech, she quickly realized there was nothing close to that on campus.

Spring of last year, she decided to take matter’s into her own hands, creating the SAFE Club at Virginia Tech.

“It’s been really successful, and almost like therapy for me,” Riccio said.

10 News sat down with students at Virginia Tech to see how the mental health crisis impacts them.

Junior Jackie Mitchell said she wasn’t aware of the extent of her mental health problems until college.

“My mom was just like, ‘Oh you just have the jitters,’ but I came to Virginia Tech and was like, ‘I’m going to try therapy since it’s a free option,’ and they said, ‘You have anxiety,’” Mitchell said.

As Jackie told 10 News, anxiety for her wasn’t just ‘the jitters.’

“My body would physically shut down,” she said.

Abby Conner is the Communications Chair for the Clear Minds Project at Virginia Tech.

She said she hears students say time and time again, they feel alone.

“Some people are like, ‘Oh my issue isn’t that big,’ but to you, it is. It’s the biggest thing going on in your life,” Conner said.

Conner, her friend Aiden Williams, along with other students on campus created the Clear Minds Project this semester to bring awareness to resources for mental health, as well as help students navigate them.

“Mental health stuff especially, the insurance is terrible in Virginia, so it’s really complicated. Any information we can provide about that, we’re trying to do,” Williams said.

The Clear Minds Project, along with the SAFE Club, are just some of the resources for struggling students.

They appreciate and support the counseling efforts from Virginia Tech, but tell us they recognize how important community with other students is for healing.

“When you hear a student that has gone through something similar as you or can relate to you, because then you really do feel less alone. When you realize there’s a club, there’s a whole community where you can go to and you don’t even really have to say anything, you just have them there, I think that’s so important,” Riccio said.