Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991 TAG: 9102270375
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE:
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
The board faced a $1 million budget shortfall, even after it eliminated raises and held the local contribution to schools to this year's level.
The budget outlook has improved in recent weeks. The General Assembly postponed costly landfill regulations and partially restored cuts in state education money.
Still, the county faces painful fiscal decisions in a year when all seven seats on the Board of Supervisors will be on the November ballot.
The board has three basic alternatives: a politically unpopular tax increase; another raid on the county's $3.1 million budget reserve; or cutbacks in education, public safety and other services.
During the next two months, the board will craft the 1991-92 spending plan during a series of workshops and public hearings. The fiscal year begins July 1.
Supervisors have indicated that, at best, most county departments can expect to receive no more local money than they did this year.
If the Board of Supervisors formally adopts that approach, some county departments - particularly the school system and constitutional offices - would have to absorb state budget cuts without any help from the county.
The school system alone expects to lose slightly more than $600,000 in state aid.
Enrollment gains could offset some of the cuts, but Superintendent Len Gereau said the School Board probably would have to lay off an undetermined number of teachers and guidance counselors if the county does not provide more local tax funds to schools.
Tuesday, Gereau asked a two-member supervisors' committee if there would be extra money for schools. The reply was inconclusive, but not encouraging.
The county expects to have about $600,000 in new local tax revenue available next year, but most of the money probably will be consumed by costly landfill regulations.
Blackwater District Supervisor Wayne Angell said that even though the regulations have been postponed for a year, some of the bills will come due in 1991-92.
"I can spend that [$600,000] sitting right here at the table without even getting the estimates," he said.
The county will have to build a system to collect rainwater runoff from the current landfill and buy land to replace the Recreation Park property where the new landfill will be sited, Angell said.
Angell and Gills Creek Supervisor Charles Ellis said the landfill will be only the beginning of requests. The sheriff, commonwealth's attorney and other constitutional officers will be asking for local money to replace state cuts, they said. The sheriff's department stands to lose $60,000.
Angell asked Gereau how the School Board would balance its budget if the county did not make up state cuts. Gereau said he would freeze salaries, put off capital projects and "probably" lay off instructional staff.
Tuesday's meeting ended inconclusively. The Board of Supervisors had authorized the two-member committee to discuss budget matters with school officials, but that committee did not speak on the board's behalf.
The School Board will discuss its budget request at a March 4 workshop.
by CNB