Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503200021
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke County Supervisor Bob Johnson said Friday that delaying a bond referendum for a new Cave Spring High School could kill the project because the cost will keep rising.
Estimates put the cost of the proposed new school at $20 million, but Johnson said that will increase by more than $1 million each year that the referendum is put off. The cost could become so high that county voters might reject a bond issue, he said.
"If they put the vote off two or three years, the project could be dead," said Johnson, who favors a referendum this year.
The architectural and engineering work on the proposed 2,000-student school has started. It is unclear whether a delay in the bond vote would push back the beginning of construction.
In the meantime, the price keeps increasing.
"It could be $22 million if the vote is delayed two years and could be $25 million to $27 million by the time it is built," Johnson said.
But some parents and supporters of the proposed school agree with Board of Supervisors Chairman Fuzzy Minnix that the referendum should be delayed two years.
"We think this is not the year for a bond issue. This is a supervisors' election year, and the voters might not pass it," said James McAden, a leader in the campaign for the new high school.
Minnix, who represents the Cave Spring District, made a commitment to put the issue on the ballot this year. But the school's supporters believe the referendum should be delayed, McAden said.
Besides Minnix, Catawba Supervisor Ed Kohinke faces re-election this year.
Minnix said a bond issue to finance the school probably would require a tax increase. The county would be in a better position to sell the bonds without a tax increase in two or three years after its bonded debt decreases, he said.
But Johnson said he has faith that county voters are willing to consider projects on their merits.
"I'm not afraid of giving people a vote on it this year," he said. The conventional wisdom is that voters in Hollins, Vinton and Catawba won't vote for a bond issue for a new high school in Cave Spring, but that is not necessarily correct, Johnson said.
Despite Johnson's advocacy, it appears unlikely a referendum will be held this year. Windsor Hills Supervisor Lee Eddy favors a delay and Vinton Supervisor Harry Nickens said he won't press for a referendum.
Eddy has asked school officials to analyze all options for schools in Southwest County before the county makes a commitment on the new high school.
Eddy has raised the option of having two high schools - one at the existing Cave Spring High and the other at Hidden Valley Junior High - and building a new middle school.
McAden said supporters of a new high school don't object to Eddy's request so long as the study deals with the use and disposition of existing schools in Southwest County. They object, however, to reopening the whole issue and again studying the need for a new school, he said.
by CNB