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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 19, 1995                   TAG: 9505190068
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

TOWN TAXES GOING UP - BY PENNIES

Property tax bills will go up in Christiansburg next year, but only by a few pennies in most cases. A public hearing on the tax rate this week drew no response from the public.

The proposed increase is the result of the real estate reassessment that occurred throughout Montgomery County last year. The reassessment showed that property values had increased 5.186 percent. Town officials could have proposed decreasing the town's current real estate rate of 14.4 cents per $100 valuation by a corresponding amount - or 0.71 of a cent - so residents would not pay a higher levy, but they noted the increase is almost infinitesimal.

"Realistically, it's not an increase, except mathematically," said John Lemley, town manager.

The tax rate will be included in Christiansburg's budget for its next fiscal year, which begins July 1. A public hearing will be held on the budget June 6, and Town Council will vote on it June 20.

by CNB