ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996                TAG: 9603080044
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                PAGE: E3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER 

VINTON TOWN COUNCIL ASKED TO SUPPORT SCHOOL BOND ISSUE

No one but Vinton Town Council members showed up Tuesday for a public hearing on setting the town's real estate tax rate.

Council has proposed leaving the rate at 5 cents per $100 of assessed value and is expected to adopt the rate at its March 19 meeting.

But even with no increase in the real estate rate, property owners, who also pay taxes to Roanoke County, will pay slightly more in taxes because the annual assessment on property increased for 1996.

Mayor Charles Hill explained that when land values go up, taxes go up too.

Vinton's land assessment for 1996 increased $10.9 million from $252.7 million in 1995 to $263.6 million.

Because of that, tax revenue to Vinton from real estate increased $5,451, according to figures released by Town Manager Clay Goodman.

In another matter, Michael W. Stovall, a member of the Roanoke County School Board, outlined a proposed $37.4 million bond issue for schools. The bond issue will be voted on in a special referendum April 2.

If the bond issue is approved, a couple of Vinton-area schools will get improvements. William Byrd Middle School will get $150,000 toward architectural and engineering fees to plan modifications to the building to relieve overcrowding.

Mount Pleasant Elementary will get $800,000 for modifications and an addition, Stovall said.

Stovall predicted that in the future, but not with this bond issue, the Vinton area will get a new elementary school to relieve crowding at Roland E. Cook and Herman L. Horn elementary schools. Stovall said all classrooms at both schools are full and one class at Roland E. Cook is forced to meet in a hall.

In urging Vinton councilmen to support the bond issue, Stovall said there are critical needs in the county school system and a new high school in the Cave Spring area is on top of the priority list. The new school would take the bulk of the bond money - $33.6 million.

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