
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 2, 1990                   TAG: 9006020360
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI TOWN COUNCIL GETS LOOK AT BUDGET

Town council members will spend the next few weeks chipping away at an unbalanced budget that shows a 6 percent increase in the general fund over last year.

Council members got their first glimpse at the proposed budget, which includes $4.46 million for the general fund, Friday morning.

"There's nothing exotic in this budget," said Town Manager Don Holycross. "And there really isn't anything new. . . . This is what it would take to maintain the same level of services."

Holycross said council members may need to adjust the level of services or increase revenues to make the budget balance. Increased revenues may include a minimal tax increase, he said. But "we hope that won't be necessary."

About $275,000 will be returned to the fund through reimbursement for use of equipment and administrative overhead.

Part of the budget increase comes from $132,500 in principal and interest payments for general obligation bonds issued by the town in 1987, Holycross said. The payment is up $43,150 over last year.

There also is an increase in the amount budgeted for auto, property and liability insurance coverage.

Employee health insurance premiums increased by about $20,000.

Two police department grants - one for enhancing drug enforcement and prosecution and the other for community crime prevention service - temporarily will add about $109,000 to the list of expenditures. But almost $82,000 for the projects will be paid by the Department of Criminal Justice Service.

"We've also increased our contributions to other organizations," Holycross said.

The bulk of that increase goes to the New River Valley Airport Commission, which has requested $7,600 as the town's share of a local matching grant for resurfacing the runway, and the New River Valley Emergency Squad, which has requested an additional $9,000 for operating funds and the town's share of a local matching grant for a new rescue vehicle.

The water fund and sewer fund also show projected shortfalls.

Estimated expenditures for the water fund in 1990-91 are about $800,000 - more than $63,000 above projected revenues.

Expenditures for the sewer fund are estimated at $1.16 million and are about $138,000 more than projected revenues.

by CNB