Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 28, 1994 TAG: 9404280217
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Supervisor Bob Johnson took issue with County Administrator Elmer Hodge's use of the pronouns "we" and "they" to refer to county staff and school staff because it set up a separation between the groups.
Supervisor Harry Nickens asked that those pronouns be eliminated from the next budget, while Ed Kohinke weighed in that "they" and "we" were just fine with him.
Roanoke County's annual budget process is under way.
"Just like the pollen comes out," Nickens said, every spring the board battles over the budget.
Hodge presented the board Tuesday with an $85 million general fund budget. (He previously had announced the budget would total $82 million - which is the figure for general government spending - but there is an additional $3 million included for accounting purposes.)
Nickens did not like the fact that the $3 million the county will see this year in one-time revenue - mostly money expected to be left over at the end of the fiscal year - was being used in the 1994-95 budget.
"I don't look at all with favor at this budget," the Vinton supervisor said. "We're mortgaging our future ... by spending all our non-recurring money."
Chairman Lee Eddy said he has a two-page list of questions and concerns he plans to go over privately with Hodge and budget personnel.
Hodge said he thinks the board is pleased with the budget. "This was one of the best meetings we've had," he said after being grilled by board members for two hours.
Nickens agreed. "They're usually worse. This was kind of tempered."
Hodge said this was the budget to which he added many of the items that have been put off in recent years because of the economy.
"Overall, I think this is one of the best budgets we've been able to present to the board in five years," he said. "We positioned ourselves for just this purpose, to come out of [the recession]. I think we're going to be able to do a lot."
Three percent across-the-board raises for county employees beginning July 1 is one of his recommendations, along with 0.8 percent merit raises that workers could be given on their anniversary date of employment.
"So, warm bodies get 3 percent," said Nickens, who would rather stick with a merit-based raise system. "And warm bodies plus anything get 3.8 percent."
Supervisors plan to hold a public hearing on a proposal to increase the 46-cent monthly surcharge on residents' Bell Atlantic phone bill; Hodge is recommending it be raised to 85 cents to pay for three more dispatchers and equipment. The county's public safety team wants it raised to $1.06, to build up funds to replace aging equipment critical to the operation of the emergency communications center.
Some of the highlights of the budget:
Sewer rates. The board will consider raising rates 10 percent - an average of $5 a month per household, Hodge said - to help pay the county's share of the regional sewage treatment plant's upgrade. Hodge also is proposing raising the sewer connection fee from $500 to $1,500.
New employees. Hodge is requesting six county employees: three E-911 dispatchers and three parks and recreation workers. The dispatchers would be paid through the increased E-911 tax on residents' phone bills; the parks and recreation employees are requested to help maintain the new facilities and fields created with the 1992 bond issue.
Health insurance. The county's health insurance premiums are up $600,000, or 25 percent, which Hodge proposes to cover through a split: $200,000 from the budget, $200,000 from the county's insurance reserve fund, and $200,000 passed on to employees. That would increase monthly premiums $15 for the family plan and $2 for individuals.
Animal control. Despite the new cat ordinance that could double the department's work load, animal control's operating budget is slated for only a $1 increase - to $45,367 - and $20,000 for a new vehicle. Hodge said wild animal calls - 7 percent of the calls animal control responds to annually - now are being referred to game wardens, so that time can be spent on cat calls. If additional staff is needed once the ordinance goes into effect July 1, Hodge said he will go back to the board with a request.
Supervisors will hold another budget workshop May 10 and were expected to vote on it May 24. But Nickens will be out of town that day, so the vote may wait until June. The budget goes into effect July 1.
by CNB