Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409140080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But they've received the next best thing.
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to provide up to $1.5 million for architectural and engineering fees so planning can begin for a new high school.
The planning funds will be included in a $10.1 million bond sale through the Virginia Public School Authority in the spring. The school-financing agency sells bonds for local school systems at less than market interest rates.
The county can sell the bonds through the authority without a referendum. The county previously has used the same financing mechanism for smaller projects.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon and a group of Southwest County residents supported County Administrator Elmer Hodge's recommendation for the $10.1 million bond sale.
"In a spirit of compromise, we support what has been recommended," said James McAden, a spokesman for supporters of a new high school. About 25 residents attending the board's meeting applauded.
The supervisors also pleased Northside High School boosters by including $3.5 million in the bond sale for a new gymnasium. Northside has the smallest gym in the county and cannot accommodate large crowds.
The supervisors plan to spend $4 million for maintenance projects at several schools, $1 million for renovation of the Cave Spring Junior High School stadium and $100,000 for architectural and engineering fees for the renovation of Fort Lewis Elementary School.
Hodge said he believes the county can sell $10.1 million in bonds without a tax increase.
The supervisors and School Board can decide later how to finance the new high school - either by an authority bond sale, or by a bond referendum in which county voters decide the issue.
On a 3-2 vote last month, the supervisors rejected a proposed $30 million bond referendum that would have included $20 million for a new high school and $10 million for other projects. Some supervisors said they were concerned that a $30-million bond issue could cause an 8-cent increase in the real estate tax rate.
By the same vote, the supervisors rejected a $10 million-bond issue that would have included most of the projects that will be covered by the Virginia Public School Authority issue.
Hodge said Tuesday that the county tax rate might have to be raised 6 cents to build the new Cave Spring school. There is no starting date, but construction will take about three years.
Tuesday's decision came on a 4-1 vote, with Chairman Lee Eddy dissenting. Eddy, an electrical engineer, said he thought the $1.5 million costs for architectural and engineering work was high.
"It boggles my mind," he said.
Eddy said he was philosophically opposed to using bonds for maintenance work. He said the county shouldn't rush into the project.
Supervisors Fuzzy Minnix and Harry Nickens voted for the bond sale, although they had opposed both the $30 million and $10 million bond referendums last month.
Minnix, who represents the Cave Spring District, said he thought a good compromise had been reached. "This is the first step, and I am pleased that we can take it," he said.
Minnix said he was glad the bond sale won't require a tax increase. Supervisors Bob Johnson and Ed Kohinke, who supported the earlier bond proposals, supported the compromise plan.
by CNB