Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 18, 1993 TAG: 9305180134
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The tax rate will still be lowered from $1.25 to $1.23 per $100 assessed valuation of property.
McCadden, who had opposed the tax cut on the earlier vote, supported it Monday on the final vote.
Council must approve tax cuts on two readings unless they are approved on an emergency basis with five affirmative votes.
Earlier, McCadden joined with Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. and Elizabeth Bowles to oppose the 2-cent reduction.
But he supported the cut Monday because he said he wanted to help bring more unity to council.
McCadden said he knew that his vote was not going to affect the outcome and he decided to support it to help ease the conflict on council.
"I voted against it on principle the first time because I didn't think it should be cut," he said. "If my vote had made the difference today, I would have voted against it.
The final vote was 5-2, with Fitzpatrick and Bowles dissenting. There was no discussion at Monday's meeting on the tax issue, but Fitzpatrick charged earlier that the tax cut appeared to be politically motivated. He suggested that council members had their eye on the next election.
But the three council members facing re-election next year - James Harvey, Howard Musser and William White - have denied it.
Harvey said he has been pushing for a tax cut for three years.
`It's kind of funny when one council member charges another with playing politics," he said.
Harvey said he has a different philosophy than some council members who never vote for tax cuts.
White also discounted the notion that the cut was politically motivated. "If it takes a coalition to get things done, then I will do it," he said.
Musser said he has been pressing for a tax cut for five years. "The tax cut had nothing to do with the election," he said.
Harvey is not satisfied with a 2-cent reduction in the tax rate. He has put City Manager Bob Herbert on notice that he wants an additional penny cut next year.
"So you won't be surprised, I want you to know now that I will be looking for another cut next year," said Harvey.
by CNB