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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995                   TAG: 9503020039
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BUDGET MEETINGS SET IN MONTGOMERY

The first budget work session is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The board set the next three special meetings, all starting at the same time, for March 14, 15 and 20. All will be held in the board room on the third floor of the Montgomery County Courthouse. The board also has regular meetings scheduled for March 13 and 27.

The supervisors typically use the meetings to come to consensus on items to cut or add to the spending plan, leading up to a March 22 public hearing at Christiansburg High School. By early April, the board will set tax rates to support the budget.

For now, the $75.8 million budget is $3.5 million out of balance between spending requests and projected tax revenues. The School Board's $49.3 million request - an 8 percent spending increase - is responsible for $2.8 million of that deficit. Meanwhile, there appears to be little stomach among a majority of board members for a tax increase.

Also this week, the Board of Supervisors:

Gave its approval to the Izaak Walton League of Montgomery County's attempt to become exempt from real-estate taxes. The board supported the request after five speakers explained the league's community service efforts in a public hearing. No one opposed the request, which will go before the General Assembly for approval next year. The Montgomery chapter owns a 118-acre farm off Den Hill Road near Shawsville that's assessed at $79,200, for a property tax bill of $574.

Changed the county ordinance requiring door-to-door solicitors to register with the Sheriff's Office. The new rules broaden the law to require that anyone conducting a survey register, too. That was a last-minute change. The initial proposal by County Attorney Roy Thorpe covered only people conducting surveys to promote the sale of goods, wares, merchandise or services. Also, every door-to-door solicitor must have a photograph attached to his or her annual permit.