Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200067
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: 1 EDITION: NEW RIVER
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
For the past two years, the county schools have received no money from the Board of Supervisors for capital improvement projects. These improvements include roof replacements, paving and other long-term projects in excess of $10,000.
"Non-funding causes a snowball effect because things don't stop deteriorating and they don't stop wearing down," Larry Schoff, director of facilities, maintenance and transportation, said Wednesday. "We've been able to keep up with these things before, but there hasn't been the money to fund it for the past two years."
In 1993-1994, the Board of Supervisors cut capital improvement funding to avoid a tax increase and in 1994-1995 allotted about half of the requested funds countywide. Four projects - none of which was school-related - were partially funded this year.
School Board members at Tuesday's meeting said they were aware of the limited funding and have followed the capital improvement requirements set forth by the Board of Supervisors. But after two years of no improvements to the schools, board members are losing their patience.
"How long can we put off repairing these roofs?" Lou Herrmann asked.
"Right now everything's holding, but when the weather gets bad I can't guarantee that," Schoff said.
Board member Barry Worth said the only alternative for the board is to wait until a roof fails or a pipe bursts, and then ask the supervisors for emergency funding for the repairs.
"We just have to make sure they're aware that we'll follow the [capital improvement projects], but if something happens we'll be right back asking for emergency money to get these things fixed," Worth said.
Dick Edwards, a relative newcomer to the board who will be involved in the budget process for the first time this year, said he didn't understand why necessary improvements are listed as capital improvements in the first place.
Capital projects are "an enhancement or an upgrade or improvement," Edwards said. "The operations and maintenance budget, on the other hand, has to do with simply preservation and maintenance of an existing structure."
Edwards said that regardless of the categorization of projects, "the School Board needs to gain an agreement with the Board of Supervisors as to what constitutes [capital improvement] funding vs. operations and maintenance funding."
The important thing, Edwards said, is that the schools get the needed repairs.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Linkous agreed.
"I really don't know where [the capital improvements definition] originally came from," Linkous said Wednesday. "Some of the items like roof replacements, boilers and plumbing really should be maintenance items. ... We may need to take a look at that."
The outlook for school-improvement funding for next year remains to be seen. Linkous said he was optimistic, but made no guarantees.
However, the School Board members know that no new projects will be accepted and unneeded projects should be deleted from the capital improvement wish list.
"The economy has picked up and we're hoping we may gain some items," Linkous said. "But at this point, I really don't know."
by CNB