ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: KRISTEN KAMMERER STAFF WRITER
Following a public hearing Monday, City Council gave preliminary approval to a 6 percent real-estate tax-rate increase.
Only one person voiced opposition to the proposal. However, a second person, Richard Fender, thought it didn't go far enough.
Fender encouraged the council to increase the tax rate by 1 cent and to use the revenue to give members of the Radford Police Department an across-the-board pay raise of $500.
"Our police put their lives on the line for us every day and night, and they need to be adequately compensated," he said.
As written, the new tax ordinance maintains Radford's real estate tax rate of 68 cents per $100 of assessed property value. However, a recent reassessment raised property values within the city. By maintaining the same rate, City Council effectively will raise the tax rate.
At the close of the public hearing, the tax ordinance was given the first of two votes. Councilman David A. Worrell stood alone in voting against the ordinance.
The council also held a second public hearing to discuss Radford's proposed 1996-97 budget of $47.2 million, which exceeds the current spending plan by 8.9 percent and would become effective July 1. There were no comments and the council promptly passed the first of two votes on the budget.
Again, only council member Worrell voted against it. Worrell said he backed Fender's request for a police pay raise. He's said previously he supports a pay raise for all city employees.
The council will take a final vote on the tax rates and budget April 22.
In other business, Randal Duncan, the Radford commonwealth's attorney, asked the council to OK an application to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services for a $38,000 grant to establish a victim-witness assistance program for Radford. Council members asked a few logistical questions before approving the request.
Currently, personnel from the Women's Resource Center of Radford and New River Community Sentencing Inc. of Christiansburg work on a part-time basis to provide services to victims of violent crime, domestic abuse and property crimes. Services include preparing the victim to appear in court, providing transportation to hearings and trials and giving emotional support before during and after the proceedings.
Duncan said that the grant would enable the two organizations to increase their services to provide the work equivalent to one full-time staff member.
According to Kevin Long, a victim-witness counselor at New River Community Sentencing, Radford never has been eligible for the grant before because of its low felony rate. The cut-off point for eligibility is 50 reported violent crimes.
However, he said, the Uniform Crime Report assembled by the state police in 1993 showed that Radford's violent crimes had increased to 66, making the city eligible for the grant.
If selected, Radford would be require to pay matching funds of 10 percent to the program, or approximately $3,800.
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