ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702070068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
TEACHERS' PAY could suffer, too, if city revenue is reduced.
Roanoke needs to replace too many modular classrooms and renovate too many schools to cut real estate taxes now, says Ruth Willson, president of the Central Council of the Parent-Teacher Association.
The School Board also is struggling to make up a projected $1.1million deficit in next year's school budget, she said as PTA leaders began a lobbying campaign against a possible tax reduction.
Several City Council members are talking about a cut in the $1.23 tax rate to help offset recent increases in real estate assessments.
But Willson said "now is not the time for a tax cut.''
"It was upsetting to learn that City Council could consider a tax rate cut at a time when city needs are so great," she said.
More than 30 members of the Central PTA Council have signed a letter opposing a tax cut. The council includes representatives from all of the PTA units at the city's 29 schools.
Local PTAs also will be asked to fight a reduction in the real estate rate.
If the School Board can't find the money to balance the school budget, several members have said, they might have to reduce the proposed 4.1 percent pay raise for teachers next year.
The teachers already are angry that they won't receive a 6 percent raise, as they say they were promised. But board members said the raise might be even smaller than the 4.1 percent recommended by Superintendent Wayne Harris if they can't close the revenue gap.
School officials said each 1-cent reduction in the real estate rate could mean the loss of $130,000 for the schools.
School Board member Brian Wishneff said a tax cut could "complicate" the board's effort to provide a raise for teachers.
If the tax rate is reduced, the city also will have less money to repay bonds for school improvements and other projects, Willson said.
The School Board has asked council to include $20million for school projects in the city's next bond referendum, likely to be in November.
School officials said the money is needed to renovate Addison Middle School, replace modular classrooms at nearly a dozen elementary schools, and air-condition several elementary schools.
Addison, the last of four middle-school renovations, is scheduled for the 1998-99 school year.
The city is using modular classrooms because of the growth in enrollment and a reduction in class size at elementary schools in recent years.
Bond funds also are needed to build gymnasiums at Fairview and Fishburn Park elementary schools, and to make library improvements at Garden City, Grandin Court, Hurt Park and Preston Park elementaries, said Richard Kelley, assistant superintendent for operations.
Kelley said the schools also have requested funds for upgrading instructional technology and financing a study for the renovation or replacement of Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools.
Willson said a tax cut wouldn't produce a big savings for homeowners, but it would reduce the size of the bond issue for school buildings and other needed city projects.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Garden City Elementary studentsby CNBleave a classroom trailer at the Southeast Roanoke school. color.