Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240063
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The governing body had been asked to increase local funding by $500,000, and the increase now budgeted is $83,000 short of that.
Superintendent Bill Asbury told the supervisors at a budget public hearing Monday night that school officials had already trimmed their proposed budget extensively before asking for the $500,000.
"Over the past several years we've done that to the point where our teachers and other employees have received less than the cost of inflation" in raises, he said.
Shannon Turner, president of the Pulaski County Education Association, told the board that "when federal and state governments do less, we must do more." She said teacher salaries in Pulaski County are more than $4,000 below the state average and more than $7,000 below the national average.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Costanzo was the only other speaker during the budget hearing. He asked for another $575 for New River Community Sentencing Inc., which coordinates community service in all New River Valley court jurisdictions; assists victims and witnesses of crimes in understanding the court system, filing compensation claims and gaining restitution; and helps offenders find gainful employment after they have been sentenced by the court.
Since July, Costanzo said, the program has given Pulaski County the benefit of 4,229 hours of community service valued, at minimum wage, at $17,973.
The proposed county budget is $39.9 million, with no tax increases.
In other business, Pulaski Town Councilwoman Bettye Steger asked the board to help solve a debris problem at Claytor Lake.
Claytor Lake State Park Ranger Richard Johnson has said the debris is the worst he has seen during his years at the park. A major cleanup day is scheduled for June 10, Steger said.
The board agreed to hold a dedication ceremony for its War Memorial at the front of the Old Courthouse on or close to July 4, whether all the work on the memorial has been completed or not.
The board also learned that construction work on the expansion and renovation of the brick courthouse, behind the historic stone structure, may be complete next month. Interior furnishings will be put in place during July. If all those things happen on schedule, County Administrator Joe Morgan said, the facility could be occupied in August.
Court proceedings are now held in rented space in a building in eastern Pulaski on Virginia 99.
The supervisors approved the relocation of the Belspring polling place from the former Belspring School, a building which has deteriorated, to the Belspring Baptist Church.
They also renewed a television cable franchise to Adelphia Cable Communications for 10 years.
by CNB