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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994                   TAG: 9405190105
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

CRAIG RESIDENTS SAY TAX INCREASE SHOULD BE SHARED

Residents at a public hearing did said the increase is being assessed unevenly to landowners, who are mostly farmers or widows. These people, the speakers said, already are having a hard time or are on limited income.

The speakers did not complain about the tax bill being higher, though.

Craig's $4.8 million proposed budget for the 1994-95 fiscal year includes a reduction in the tax levy from 70 cents to 58 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation of real estate. But, tax bills are expected to increase because property values rose 36 percent during a recent reassessment. The current budget is $4.4 million.

Property owners should not have to pay most of the increase especially when one of the county's biggest costs is in solid waste disposal, the speakers said. Some even recommended that the county have trash removal fee.

But, County Administrator Richard Flora said he feared that a trash fee would lead to an increase in illegal dumping along roads.

Sanitation and waste disposal will cost the county about $182,200 in the next fiscal year - $20,400 more than in the current fiscal year.

Flora said waste disposal costs will be about $43 a ton, which is lower than costs for other counties of similar size.

Supervisor Chairman Zane Jones said he sympathizes with residents but noted that Craig has little else to tax.

"Craig County has more real estate than anything else," he said.

The supervisors did not act on the budget or tax levy at Tuesday's meeting. They will study the comments and decide if the budget should be revised.