Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991 TAG: 9103190352
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The five council members informally agreed to a local share of $3,397,835 of the school board's proposed budget of $7,178,004. Council voted to provide the additional $85,000 for projects such as resurfacing the Radford High School track and repairing the high school auditorium roof.
The School Board had asked the city to contribute about $3.63 million to its operating budget, including $239,471 for the raises, adjustments to the teacher pay scale and benefits.
"It looks like it's going to be something we're going to have to live with," Mildred Whitt, president of the Radford Education Association, said after the meeting. "At this point, I think we're going to have to wait and see."
The association members will be disappointed not to get the full increase, she said, but it could be possible that some portion of the raise will still be given when the School Board decides where to cut its propose budget to meet City Council's limit.
And while disappointed, Whitt said members realize they were lucky to have a salary increase in the proposed budget, considering the lean economic times.
Other straw votes made Monday included:
A no-increase budget of $59,220 for the Radford Health Department. Margaret Robinson, director of the New River Valley Health District, had asked the council last week for $69,344 as Radford's share of the health department budget, an increase of more than $10,000 over this year.
Robinson said the Health Department could not hold to a level-funding, or no-increase, directive because of increased costs for postage, telephone, supplies and employee health care benefits.
"If we did not include [the increase], we would have to lay off workers," Robinson said last Monday. And, she said, it would "become very, very difficult" to continue providing the same level of services next year in Radford.
Vice Mayor Polly Corn said the health department budget was "clearly a case where the state has cut [funding] and we're expected to pick it up."
Increasing the local contribution to the Department of Social Services and New River Valley Community Services Board by 10 percent, instead of by the amount requested.
The Community Services Board asked for $34,728 but will receive $30,248 from Radford. The Department of Social Services estimated a budget of $177,126 for public assistance programs. Instead, council approved a no-increase budget except for 10 percent increases for aid to the aged; day care and Meals on Wheels programs; and in-home services for those who are not in nursing or adult homes.
The city's proposed 1991-92 expenditures of just under $35 million called for no increase in tax rates and no salary increases for employees. Real estate taxes would remain at 70 cents per $100 of assessed value. Personal property and machinery and tools taxes would stay at $1.40 per $100 assessed. Residential rates for garbage disposal, recently increased to help offset increased costs at the Ingles Mountain Landfill, would remain at $13 per month.
Council plans to continue its budget deliberations Monday at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building before the regular 7:30 p.m. council meeting.
by CNB