
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 27, 1994                   TAG: 9404270113
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD REAL ESTATE TAX RATE

Bedford City Council got its first peek at a proposed 1994-95 budget which will not raise the real estate tax rate, but will raise taxes.

A recent real estate reassessment pushed property values higher, which will in turn cause taxpayers to pay $178,000 in new taxes.

City Manager Jack Gross proposed that the council leave the real estate tax rate at 71 cents per every $100 of assessed real estate.

Gross told council that his proposed $22.9 million budget attempts to hold the line on spending, although he anticipated no decrease in city services.

No one area of the city's finances was the major benefactor of the increased revenue. The city government will add three positions to its 118-person work force.

The budget calls for an across-the-board 2.5 percent raise for all city employees. Employees can qualify for another 2.5 percent merit increase.

The budget does not increase taxes on businesses or personal property.

"It is a maintenance budget," he said.

"It is a very conservative budget," Gross said. "It is one that is fiscally sound."

by CNB