Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 30, 1995 TAG: 9501300006
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Now a resident of east Roanoke County, he wouldn't mind becoming part of Vinton again - even if Vinton moves out to meet him.
``We just don't get a lot of services,'' Conner said. ``This end of Roanoke County, we would just be better in the town of Vinton than sitting out here by ourself.''
Conner is in the minority, if county residents' opinions on annexation haven't changed since 1990.
That was the last time the town talked of annexing seven square miles of the county. But the issue is on the table again as Vinton Town Council studies an update of its 1990 report.
C.E. Stewart, who walked through every major east county subdivision polling his neighbors five years ago, said there was ``overwhelming'' opposition to it. He found more than 97 percent of residents against it then.
``I see nothing that has transpired since to make them want to change their mind,'' he said.
Vinton has about 70 acres of usable residential land left, an aging population and little growth. The town is studying whether expanding its boundaries into Roanoke County is the answer.
Roanoke County officials, meanwhile, are hoping to come up with alternatives to annexing.
This isn't as hostile a battle as when an independent city tries to annex land from a neighboring county. Because it's a town, Vinton already is part of Roanoke County. The county, therefore, has an interest in seeing the town maintain a viable government.
``There is every indication that the town and county would like to work on this together and would like to work on something that would be a model for the state,'' County Administrator Elmer Hodge said. ``I have not seen any indication of a confrontation between the two localities. I am most pleased with the approach taken.''
Town Manager Clay Goodman said council members are gathering information before they make up their minds. Vinton will not make the study public, and officials will not say what it recommends.
But the town is looking to the future, and it sees stagnation.
``Our revenues are not growing,'' Goodman said. ``We're trying to deal with that in a way we can still live within our means.''
The average household income in Vinton is $25,000, while in east county it's $44,000, according to 1990 census figures. Most houses in Vinton are more than 20 years old.
``We see an aging of housing stock and, with the lack of growth, it's a question of whether [there will have to be] a significant increase in assessments,'' Goodman said. Vinton now adds a nickel to the $1.13 real estate tax rate in the county and $1 to the personal property rate.
The last big piece of land available for residential development in Vinton has a subdivision off Mountain View Road with 120 houses going up on it.
As for larger economic development projects, there are none in that part of the county, Hodge said. ``We aren't seeing the growth out in that area that we'd like to and that Vinton would like to, as well.''
The town and county work together in many ways, such as sharing fire and rescue responsibilities and a regional landfill. The county's commissioner of revenue helps collect personal property taxes in Vinton, and the town contracts with the county to do building inspections, electrical and plumbing inspections, and erosion and sediment control.
Vinton provides additional services to its residents, such as a 22-person Police Department and recycling pickup.
Stewart said Vinton should give up its town charter and become an unincorporated community, like Bent Mountain or Fort Lewis.
``Then every resident of the town of Vinton would get a tax cut, without sacrificing any benefits except a little police protection,'' he said.
Mayor Charles Hill said council is still waiting for information from lawyers and consulting engineers, feasibility studies and maps. He said there is no time frame for deciding whether to annex.
County supervisors hope they can come up with an alternative for the town.
Among the options that County Attorney Paul Mahoney said he has discussed with the county board, but not necessarily with Vinton, include:
An agreed-on expansion of town boundaries.
Revenue sharing, in which the county shares with Vinton the tax revenue it receives from development surrounding the town.
Service agreements in which the county picks up the burden of some services that are a financial drain on the town.
All those are authorized by state law. But, Mahoney asked, ``Why be limited by state law? Why not try to craft our own and forget the state statute'' and get the General Assembly to approve it next year?
But so far, ``we're not at the stage of negotiating with Vinton,'' he said. ``We're looking at the realm of possibilities.''
Vinton could develop its McDonald farm property, which is outside town limits in the county, for an industrial prospect. The county could help with infrastructure and other expenses or make the project a ``revenue-sharing opportunity,'' Hodge said.
``I think they want a way to get better roads, economic vitality,'' he said. ``I think they'd be very pleased with a revenue-sharing plan.''
The county gets less revenue from Vinton than it would if the area weren't incorporated as a town. Business-license taxes, sales taxes and vehicle decal fees all go into Vinton's budget instead of the county coffers. So, if the county invests money in Vinton, it doesn't get all the revenue generated by that investment, Hodge said.
In the 1980s, the two governments agreed that Vinton was not getting a fair return on its county tax money.
So, the county began giving the town annual block grants - now about $110,000 - to cover the cost of garbage pickup.
``It's a little early to predict what will happen,'' said Mayor Hill, who sees the negotiating process between the town and county taking months.
Mahoney suggested that the budget process this spring might be the logical time to work out an agreement.
``The key driving factor in all these discussions is dollars,'' he said.
But Hodge said he's not sure anything will come of the discussions.
``This has been a research effort,'' he said. ``A research effort may result in some action, and it may not. It's been an analytical research effort. I do not have any idea that it will go further.''
County Supervisor Harry Nickens, who represents residents of east county and the town, said he has been hearing from both.
People in the county tell him they don't want to pay higher taxes by becoming part of Vinton. People in Vinton tell him they don't want their services diluted by having the town expanded, he said.
``Our challenge here,'' Nickens said, ``is how do we ensure the fiscal viability of the town in a manner in the town's best interest and the county's best interest?''
by CNB