Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 26, 1994 TAG: 9404260151
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The cry for more regional cooperation between the two governments, a recurring theme for years, resurfaced last week when City Manager Bob Herbert released his proposed 1994-95 budget.
Council members, spurred by what they believe to be unjust criticism of their efforts at regionalism, have taken every opportunity to harp on the county's contributions - or lack thereof - to programs including Center in the Square and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"I am setting out the gauntlet, issuing a challenge," Bowers said last week. "The city of Roanoke will be first in regional cooperation."
Bowers took advantage of media coverage at Monday night's budget hearing to continue his campaign for more county funding, and he was backed up by most council members.
Fewer than a dozen speakers addressed council, but representatives from Center in the Square, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Harrison Museum of African American Culture and Blue Ridge Community Services were among them.
Bowers asked each of those speakers if their organizations received more funding from the city or the county.
"Is the city of Roanoke No.1?" he repeatedly asked. The answer was yes, every time.
"The city has always been first," said Martha Mackey, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "But to go a step further, the city has also received a lion's share of the tax revenue."
The Convention and Visitors Bureau got $650,000 from the city and $250,000 from the county; Center in the Square received $150,000 from the city and $20,000 from the county.
"I just hope that somehow, someway, we'll someday come to an equal level of funding for these projects," said Councilman James Harvey.
Bob Johnson, a member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, said the criticism of the county is unwarranted and that City Council would see that if it just looked at the facts.
"It's just a little disconcerting to hear," he said Monday night when told about council's comments. "Notice the city doesn't say anything about where they dump their garbage."
For years, the Roanoke Valley's regional landfill has been located in the county.
Johnson also pointed out that the city refused to give any money to support the Explore Park in the county.
Melody Stovall, executive director of the Harrison Museum, told City Council that the museum gets $85,000 a year from the city and nothing from the county.
"Have you asked?" said Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden.
"Yes, but after three or four years of hearing no, we stopped," she responded.
"Keep asking," McCadden urged.
The continuing dispute between the two localities was stirred up again last week when Herbert lamented that the county doesn't put more money into social service programs.
He pointed out that the city is spending more than $9 million a year on health and welfare programs, while the county allocates roughly $2 million to similar programs.
The huge disparity makes Roanoke a magnet for low-income families, Herbert said.
"A lot of people might like us to do more for Explore, but we're spending all our money on people," he said. "We're being responsible; why don't they?"
Roanoke County Administrator Elmer Hodge said last week that he would be "delighted" to discuss more regional cooperation - as long as the talks included water, sewer and solid-waste collection.
Johnson said he's confident the two localities will work together after next month's City Council elections, when Harvey and Councilman Howard Musser leave office.
"I can say that without reservation," he said.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***