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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 28, 1994                   TAG: 9404280212
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TRUCK'S A DEAL UNTIL TAX TIME

Q: I bought a new Ford truck last September, and the tax assessment that just came is more than we paid for it. I didn't think cars ever appreciated. How is that possible?

L.S., Roanoke

A: You're in an unusual spot, but you're not alone. Apparently, the value of your vehicle has increased - according to the book that's used to figure tax values.

You got a deal on the retail price of your '93 Ranger when you bought it at the end of the model year.

The average price of all Ford Rangers sold in the eastern United States with options similar to yours is compiled in the National Automobile Dealers Association book, which is updated every few months, and for every brand of vehicle.

The book used by Roanoke County shows an average loan value for a '93 Ranger carrying few options as $8,375. That's the figure used to assess tax value, said Wayne Compton, commissioner of revenue. It's a few hundred dollars more than you paid last September.

Compton said owners of Hondas, Toyotas, many small pickups and motorcycles are sharing your experience.

Nationwide, demand for these vehicles is strong and the price stays fairly high, even for used vehicles. That keeps tax assessments up.

A couple of Roanoke-area Ford dealers said the price of a used Ranger is holding up well, although the local market isn't quite commanding the $8,000-plus figure the book cites for your truck.

Compton said the economical deal you apparently negotiated probably accounts for the absence of depreciation the first year. He also said mistakes can occur when his office identifies the exact vehicle model, so it might be worthwhile to doublecheck the figures. Give the vehicle identification number from your registration if you call the commissioner.

Houses are safe

Q: On Read Mountain Road in Cloverdale, where the road is being widened, there are survey stakes that indicate the road will cut across the corners of some front porches. Does that mean those houses will be demolished?

K.B., Daleville A: Those stakes are deliberately set wide of the road work so they won't be knocked down during the road work, highway engineers said.

They're probably 20 to 30 feet from the actual construction work, so the houses won't be demolished.|

Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by CNB