ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 8, 1997 TAG: 9703100017
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN THE ROANOKE TIMES
To fund the county school budget and other needs, the supervisors will advertise a possible 10 percent tax rate increase.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Thursday gave the go-ahead to advertising a proposed 7-cent increase in the real-estate tax rate after deadlocking on the issue last week.
The public hearing on the budget - and the possible 10 percent increase in the county tax rate - will be on March 20 at Shawsville High School.
The proposed $77.8 million budget is some $5 million more than this year's. If the proposed budget were adopted with no cuts, it would require a 7-cent increase in the county's 70-cent tax rate.
Board Chairman Joe Gorman and Supervisors Mary Biggs, Jim Moore and Nick Rush supported the advertised rate.
Even though the full amount of an advertised tax rate is rarely passed, the supervisors were reluctant last week to approve even advertising the rate for fear the public would consider it a done deal. In the past six years, the board has raised the real-estate tax rate only twice. Last year, the county advertised a 6-cent tax increase but approved only a 1-cent increase.
A 7-cent tax increase would mean owners of a $100,000 home would see their tax bill increase from $700 to $770.
Supervisors began a budget review this past Monday, and will continue the process after Monday's regular board meeting.
The schools are asking for $53.3 million, an increase of more than 7 percent in total funding.
School Board Chairwoman Annette Perkins said only basic needs are included in the budget, which asks for $2.2 million in new county money. Most of that is for new teachers and a 3 percent salary increase for employees. The request includes 26 new teachers, including 6.5 elementary reading teachers. The School Board also wants seven new mobile classrooms.
Supervisor Jim Moore pointed out that the proposed school budget represents spending of $5,890 per pupil. Two years ago, Sheriff Ken Phipps told him it cost about $13,000 to house an inmate at the county jail for a year.
"This is a bargain," Moore said.
Other budget requests reviewed during Monday's work session were:
An estimated $300,000 for reassessing all real estate in the county, a process required every four years by state code to set property values.
$8,125 to pay a graduate student to assist the finance department with fiscal analysis. In eight years, the finance staff has increased by only one position.
Up to $46,000 to make the county engineer position a full-time position. The county currently pays the Public Service Authority for the part-time services of Jerry Mabry, the authority's utilities engineer. The board left the matter in the budget but will examine it later during their budget sessions.
Monday's budget work session will be used to review requests by the Department of Social Services and Public Facilities.
The supervisors must set a final tax rate by April 10 so Treasurer Ellis Meredith can prepare tax tickets for mailing. A budget must be adopted by June 30.
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