Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 16, 1991 TAG: 9104160338
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The supervisors decided last week to aim for at least $481,000 in cuts from the proposed budget presented by county staff. They started with themselves, deciding against giving board members or any other county employees a raise next year.
Cuts in state funds and the economy are affecting county budgets generally, forcing all of them to rein in costs where possible.
"I do realize that budget cuts are inevitable this year," said Melinda Zalecki, Pulaski County Public Library director. She said projected library cuts could mean dropping bookmobile service, and would also affect the number of new books that could be bought for libraries in Pulaski and Dublin.
"I know times are really hard," said Janet Johnson of New River Community Action, "but we feel like we are really carrying a large load . . . We're seeing new people who have never been to our agency before."
She said the anti-poverty agency served 34 families last month who had never been to its office and who needed assistance because of layoffs.
County Administrator Joseph N. Morgan gave the board a list of potential budget cuts totaling $546,353.
Some of the bigger cuts included social services, going down by $26,943; the supervisors, $16,500; county administrator, $1,295; county attorney's office, $15,000; operations, $11,536; treasurer, $8,840; commissioner of revenue, $4,326; registrar, $6,000; circuit-court clerk, $6,054; sheriff, $9,556.
Building inspection, $1,390; animal control, $1,020; engineering, $1,020; New River Valley Airport, $5,659; health department, $8,718; housing assistance, $1,740; recreation, $6,548; historical preservation, $2,500; library, $10,291; New River Community Action, $728; and economic development, $5,000.
by CNB