Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 12, 1993 TAG: 9304120011
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
BEDFORD EXPECTS TAX-RISE PROTEST
The last time the Bedford County Board of Supervisors proposed raising real estate taxes, there was virtually no opposition. Tonight, however, could be a different story from three years ago.County officials expect a large turnout at their public hearing on the proposed tax increases. They also expect more of a brouhaha from taxpayers as the county looks to raise not only real estate taxes, but personal property taxes and automobile-decal fees as well.
The supervisors have proposed a five-cent increase in the real estate tax, from 62 to 67 cents per $100 in assessed real estate value. Personal property would increase from $6 to $6.50 per $100 in assessed value and vehicle decals would jump from $5 to $15.
County Administrator Bill Rolfe said the increases would generate almost $1.4 million in revenues annually, and would offset this year's budget deficit of $1 million.
That deficit is less than the $3 million shortfall in the original budget draft for 1993-94. In work sessions during the past month, the supervisors cut more than $1 million in proposed spending for next year; and the county came up with some additional revenue it originally had underestimated.
Still, that left them $1 million short.
By raising both real estate and personal property taxes, plus the decal fee, the supervisors said they hoped to spread out the tax burden, rather than hit just real estate owners or car owners.
The decal fee was last raised in 1973, the personal property tax in 1989. The last real estate tax increase was in 1990.
That year, the supervisors raised it 2 cents, from 60 to 62 cents per $100 in assessed real estate value. The increase received no opposition at a public hearing.
Board Chairman Tony Ware predicted that tonight's meeting would be different because the supervisors are considering three different tax increases. "We're not leaving many people unaffected," he said.
Ware said the supervisors may consider further budget cuts, although he would not specify which ones. He said the tax increases also may be lowered. Either way, Ware and others said, they expect a packed public hearing tonight.
Several tax-increase opponents in the county said they planned to study the proposed budget and would come to the meeting tonight armed with questions.
Bob Crouch of Montvale, who heads the grass-roots group, District Six Taxpayers for an Equal Share, said he would urge the supervisors to make more spending cuts before raising taxes.
"It's not a popular time to raise taxes," he said.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 13, 1993.
Because of a reporter's error, the current decal fee for Bedford County was incorrectly reported. The decal fee is $10. The county is considering increasing the fee to $15.
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Memo: Correction