ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512040020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
Town Manager Ron Secrist is proposing $3.7 million in capital improvements during the next fiscal year, the largest planned spending in five years.
A capital improvement refers to any major construction or acquisition project that costs more than $10,000. Municipalities are required to update capital improvement programs every five years but Blacksburg re-examines its plan yearly.
This year, Secrist and other town staff members presented a plan that will stretch through fiscal years 1996 to 2000. In total, the five-year plan proposes $20.51 million in capital improvements.
One of the reasons for proposing the increase in spending is growth in the town's general fund.
The general fund pays for services such as parks and recreation, transportation and fire and rescue. Assistant Town Manager Bonnie Svrcek, who helped put the program together, said the increase in the fund shows town residents "we're putting a lot of money into that infrastructure and adding new things."
Services such as water and sewer are in separate funds.
While no changes in the tax rates are proposed in this program, water rates would increase by 12.5 percent, the fourth such proposed increase. Sewer rates would increase by 5.5 percent. Both rate changes would be effective July 1,1996.
Svrcek said the increases, which are in line with a 1993 utility rate study, are to maintain the fund's integrity, accommodate inflation and continue water and sewer infrastructure improvements.
Two new projects under the water and sewer fund Svrcek highlighted for council this week include $75,000 in preliminary funding for Toms Creek sanitary sewer work in fiscal year 1997 and water tank maintenance, meaning inspections, for $26,884 in 1996.
The town is in the process of developing a zoning amendment for Toms Creek Basin, Blacksburg's largest tract of undeveloped land. The sewer project is a major part of that development.
Highlights of the 1996-97 budget include:
$170,000 for a sewer pump station replacement
$10,000 for a greenway system and land acquisition
$150,000 for a senior center
$100,000 for public facility improvements, including the Town Council chambers
$40,000 for an off-road bikeway route system
$20,000 for an on-road bikeway system
$100,000 for major street improvements
Secrist stressed that there are some unknown factors that could cost the town money in the future, including a possible repeal of, or changes in, the Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax, changes to retirement packages for town employees, further construction costs for the Toms Creek sewer project and a new police communications system.
Town Council will hold a public hearing on the program Jan. 9 and will vote on it Jan. 23.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB