Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 30, 1993 TAG: 9309300054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With notebook in hand 3 1/2 years ago, he walked door to door visiting hundreds of homes.
The question: Do you want to be annexed by Vinton?
Stewart found most were opposed when the annexation issue came up during consolidation talks between Roanoke and Roanoke County. But some east county residents interviewed by the newspaper on Wednesday said they are willing to give annexation a second look.
Don Thomas, a volunteer firefighter and resident of the Falling Creek subdivision, was typical. Before, he said, he would have said "no" to annexation. But now he wants to see the results of an updated study commissioned by Vinton's Town Council.
Juanita Sadlier, who lives in the Lindenwood subdivision and opposed annexation in 1990, said she, too, would like more information before forming an opinion this time.
In 1990, Stewart presented residents with petitions on both sides of the issue and asked them to take their pick. "I had never done anything like this before," he said. "I tried to be fair."
More than 97 percent of the 1,500 people who talked to Stewart opposed annexation.
The important vote will come if Vinton Town Council considers the issue later this fall. It doled out $30,000 recently to update an annexation study done three years ago.
Vinton's town manager has said the town would not necessarily proceed with annexation even if the study supports it.
Stewart said he has no indication that there is a groundswell of support for the idea from county residents, who have no voice on the Vinton council.
"I feel nothing has been done to change these percentages - there have been no enticements," he said.
Residents of Vinton pay taxes to both the town and to Roanoke County. The town adds a nickel to the county's real estate tax rate of $1.13, and $1 to the county's personal property tax rate.
"Why should anyone want to go into the town of Vinton and pay more taxes?" Stewart asked.
Already, the county and Vinton are sharing expenses for services like water, fire and rescue. Annexation would allow Vinton to tap further into tax dollars generated by rapid growth in the eastern part of the county.
By annexing, Vinton stands to double its area and population. Figures from the 1990 census show that the average household income in east Roanoke County is $44,000, compared to $25,000 in Vinton. The likely reason: The census showed the predominant jobs in east Roanoke County are executive, professional and managerial, while in Vinton they are clerical, sales and production. Homes in east Roanoke County generally are newer than homes in Vinton, the census showed, which means their taxable value is likely to be higher.
"In my opinion the town of Vinton officials are attempting to use non-town residents of east Roanoke County" to generate more revenue, Stewart said. "I believe non-town people are providing as much for the welfare of the people in the town as the town itself."
Michael Schneider, who at one time opposed annexation, now likes the idea.
"The people that are going to be most affected by this are those of us who already receive services from the town of Vinton. What's fair is fair," he said.
"I don't mind paying a little extra tax money if it's going to be well spent."
Stewart says east Roanoke County residents should be allowed to vote on any annexation plan. "If it's so desirable for us to become part of Vinton, what has Vinton got to fear by giving us a vote on it?" Stewart said.
After all, Vinton could surrender its charter, cease being a town and "eliminate the double tax for all," he said.
by CNB