Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120050
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY AND MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
School officials were trying to figure out Tuesday what would stay and what would go. School Superintendent Herman Bartlett is expected to present options to the School Board next week.
The supervisors approved a 69-cent tax rate that will pay for the bulk of local revenues in the $68.07 million county spending plan. The personal property rate on cars and other vehicles also remains unchanged, at $2.45.
The decision came after two supervisors favored more school spending, but the majority favored leaving the tax rate alone. Most supervisors consider the real-estate tax to be regressive, because it hurts retirees and others who can least afford to pay more.
The School Board's approved budget, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, totals $47.3 million. That's a $2.06 million, or 4.57 percent spending increase. The local tax contribution to school funding, including state recordation taxes, will increase to $20.9 million from $20.07 million now. That's an $833,500, or 4.2 percent increase.
"That will barely keep our heads above water," said School Board member Barry Worth.
The problem, from school leaders' perspectives, is that they asked for a $49.2 million budget. That would have meant a $3.95 million, or 8.7 percent increase. Included in that was an increase in county tax support of $2.7 million, or 13.7 percent.
Worth said his primary concern is teachers. He said he would like to keep the 1 percent salary increase included as a spending initiative in the proposed budget. That increase, combined with a 3 percent increase built into the base budget, would cost $1.35 million.
Other school supporters reacted with surprise and some degree of resignation given it's an election year and four board seats will be up before voters in November.
"I'm disappointed, but we pretty much knew that this was going to be a tough year," said Regina Smith, president of the county Council of Parent Teacher Associations.
After adopting the tax rate and setting the budget, the Board of Supervisors took two more steps that may aid schools. First, the board committed up to $150,000 for school capital improvements if a forecasted revenue surplus materializes by June 30. Second, the supervisors agreed to reappropriate any money in the current budget that the School Board doesn't spend.
While schools appear to be the big loser in Monday's decision, county employees came out with a major pay increase. Many workers, though, say it only restores their pay to where it would have been had the county stuck with its pay plan for the last several years.
The budget includes $197,600 to pay for the salary improvement plan, which includes a 5 percent raise, effective July 1, designed to bring county employees up to par with surrounding jurisdictions.
Plus, county employees will be eligible to receive an average of a 5 percent pay increase on the anniversary of their hiring. The county labels that a "merit" increase but almost all workers will receive it. That $70,000 cost is built in to the county's base budget.
by CNB