Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 5, 1993 TAG: 9305050107
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
This one, as now proposed, actually is a reduction. It totals $37,557,627. This year's budget is more than $40 million.
No taxes would be increased. Both personal property and machinery and tool tax rates would be $1.50 per $100 of assessed valuation; merchant's capital would be $4.80; and real estate and mobile homes, 70 cents.
County money for county schools, the biggest budget item, would drop slightly from the current $17,532,331 to a proposed $17,268,838. The difference is mostly from last year's one-time approval of $500,000 for capital outlay. If that figure was discounted, county support for education would be up slightly.
The supervisors committed themselves during their budget workshops to starting from level funding in all categories, and then allowing increases only where estimated income would allow.
Those increases have been strictly limited. At its meeting Monday night, the board declined two additional requests, including a contribution to the Gary Clark Sports Camp.
With other agencies not getting increases, Chairman Jerry White said, approving new expenses "would send, somehow, a message that we wouldn't want to send."
The county would pay less for health insurance for its employees under the budget scheduled for a public hearing May 17 and formal adoption May 24.
About 10 percent of county employees who have a comprehensive health plan would not be affected by the proposed employer reduction. But those who have the basic plan, as most do, would be affected.
The single plan would increase employee contributions by $42 per month to $81. The dual plan would go up by $75 to $211 and the family plan by $102 to $315.
Presently, 116 employees have single plans, 37 have dual plans and 36 have family plans. Employees would have a chance to switch to comprehensive plans with a deductible of $200 and maximum out-of-pocket expense of $2,000 per calendar year for an individual or $4,000 for a dual or family plan.
Employees who earn at least $40,000 with a family plan and receive the proposed 3-percent salary increase next year will break even. Under the single plan, the break-even salary would be $18,000 and, for the dual plan, $30,000.
Those below those salary levels, even with their 3-percent raise, would actually see less take-home pay.
County Administrator Joseph Morgan will look into the possibility of hospitals or hospital systems offering discounts to county employees.
"I think we're at the point where it's worth exploring that," he said.
The proposed budget includes capital outlay recommendations of $45,084 toward a fourth building at New River Community College; $150,000 for a Newbern fire truck; and $15,000 for geographic information system mapping of the county.
Also given high priority would be $30,000 to complete the renovation of the county administration building, $80,000 on sheriff's vehicles, $15,000 for a dispatcher's console, $34,249 for ambulance replacement and $12,450 toward improvements at New River Valley Airport.
by CNB