Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 1, 1993 TAG: 9305010204
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Councilman William White believes council should make budget cuts and revise revenue projections to provide additional funds for schools.
"We need to do more for our young people," said White, who was a School Board member before he was elected to council.
White has asked City Manager Bob Herbert and other officials to review the budget to see if more money for schools can be found.
He also wants them to review revenue estimates to determine whether they might be too conservative.
Not all of White's colleagues agree with him as council prepares for a week of study on Herbert's proposed $129.7 million budget.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles doubts council can increase the $1.1 million in new local funds for schools that already is included in Herbert's budget.
"I don't see where we can find any more money for schools unless there is a miracle," Bowles said. "The fact is that there are no more funds, and I don't know anyone who wants to pay higher taxes."
Council's budget sessions begin Tuesday.
Herbert has recommended that council approve the proposed $69.7 million school budget that was submitted by the School Board.
The school budget includes pay raises for teachers ranging from 2 percent to 20.8 percent, depending on their years with the city. The average raise for teachers is 4.1 percent.
But the teachers are angry because their salaries have fallen below those of their counterparts in Salem and Roanoke County.
The Roanoke Education Association spent $3,800 on newspaper and radio advertising to get a large turnout at a public hearing on the budget this week, but only 200 attended. In recent years, some budget hearings have brought out 500 people or more, mainly teachers and Parent Teacher Association members.
Like White, Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. said the city is not spending enough on schools, but he doesn't know where additional funds could be found.
Council should be cautious of making far-reaching changes in the budget because the economic impact of the loss of 4,000 jobs within a 50-mile radius of Roanoke is uncertain, Fitzpatrick said.
"This could have a major impact on our tax revenues," he said. "We don't know how it will affect our sales tax revenues and other taxes."
Councilman James Harvey, meanwhile, has vowed to continue his campaign for a cut in the real-estate tax rate. The rate was last reduced from $1.29 to $1.25 per $100 assessed valuation of property in 1988.
A two-cent reduction would lower the tax bill for the owner of a $60,000 house by $12 a year - from $750 to $738.
Each penny in the real-estate levy generates $282,000 a year.
White doubts the city can afford a tax cut now because of the uncertain economy.
Councilman Howard Musser said he, too, would like to see a cut in the real-estate rate, but he's not sure the city can afford it.
Mayor David Bowers said the city might do well to just hold the line and avoid layoffs and service reductions.
Bower has tried to ease the conflict and adversarial relationship between council and the teachers.
"It is not us versus you. We are all in this together," Bowers told the teachers this week.
Bowers said council may find it difficult to come up with more money for schools. He has proposed the repeal of agricultural assessments that would provide an additional $126,000 a year in tax revenue. But not all council members agree with that.
The biggest complaints about the school budget have focused on teacher pay raises and the teacher-pupil relationship in the elementary grades.
Mason Powell, executive president of the Virginia Education Association, has complained that council is selling out students and teachers by inadequate funding for schools.
by CNB