ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701100130
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER, LISA APPLEGATE, KENNETH SINGLETARY AND ROBERT FREIS
* Pulaski Town Council will spend up to $30,000 to upgrade Calfee Park in hopes of landing a Texas Rangers Appalachian League baseball team in the coming season. Work will include new lighting and council authorized town officials to negotiate a contract with the Rangers.
Council also approved an increase in taxi fares after no one showed up Tuesday to speak for or against it at a public hearing. The increase allows the town's two cab company's to add up to 75 cents per trip to their charges. Each company can raise rates in five-cent increments to the 75-cent maximum by notifying the town's Finance Department. The request for the increase came from Blue & White Cabs Inc. Town Finance Director Wade Bartlett reviewed the company's financial statements and reported its profits down 41 percent over the past three years and expenses up 13 percent over the past two years.
Council received its annual finance report from Larrowe, Cardwell and Co., which has performed the audit for three years and is now opening an office in Pulaski. Expenses were up because the town used money from surplus balances in previous years to fund planned capital projects last year. General property taxes for the fiscal year ending June 30 were up by about $145,000. Reasons included efforts to collect delinquent taxes, an increase in property values, and local industries adding new machinery and tools. A tobacco tax brought in $40,000. It was also the first time in three years that water and sewer funds showed net surpluses.
* Before it was too late, one veteran teacher warned the Radford City School Board to consider salary increases to next year's budget carefully. At the board meeting Tuesday, teacher Lois Carr said the increase was a slap in the face to employees who have dedicated decades to the school system.
While the board has not formally voted on a budget proposal for next year, it did reach consensus on new budget initiatives totaling $500,000. That included a 4.5 percent raise for most employees, except for those who have reached the top of the pay scale and would get a 2 percent increase.
Carr said this would hurt retirement benefits, which are determined by averaging a person's salary for the final three years of work. Radford Education Association President Betty Whitley said she knew people would be upset by the change, but it was the only way to level their pay scale and make it equitable for everyone.
"It cost us thousands of dollars to fix this scale three years ago," said Vice Chairman Carter Effler. He said he would prefer doing away with the scale and giving the same percentage increase to all, but "you all wanted a salary scale and we need to follow it."
Board Chairman Chip Craig said the board would consider Carr's comments once they know how much City Council will appropriate. The Board must turn in its final budget by Feb. 21.
* The Christiansburg Town Council on Tuesday agreed to offer real estate tax relief to qualifying elderly and disabled residents. The relief would be 40 percent, 60 percent or 100 percent of the tax bill, depending on income and assets.
Residents must apply to either the town or Montgomery County by April to qualify for the 1996 tax year. Montgomery County and Blacksburg already offer such tax relief.
Council also agreed to change its system of billing for water service. Under the old two-month billing system, the full charge for two month's service was due even if service was turned off before two months. Under the new system, service for 30 days or less would result in a bill for half-payment. Full payment would be due for service of 30 days or more.
* The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors has met twice this week to sift through the resumes of about 90 applicants seeking to replace County Administrator Betty Thomas. The deadline for applications was Jan. 3 and Supervisors Chairman Henry Jablonski said the board is pleased with the number and quality of applicants. Thomas plans to retire March 30. Jablonski said the board has no timetable for hiring a new administrator beyond wanting some job overlap between Thomas and her replacement. The supervisors met in executive session Monday and Wednesday to review resumes and job applications.
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