ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 9, 1997 TAG: 9704090064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Roanoke County Board of Supervisors chairman wants to speed up improvement projects.
Roanoke County school officials might have to cut their budget for next year if they want to move quickly on school building projects.
Bob Johnson, chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, wants about $700,000 trimmed from the $84 million school budget so the county can proceed with needed school improvements.
If school officials can spare that much, the money can be combined with about $1.8 million that the supervisors have set aside for financing school projects, Johnson said Tuesday.
This would provide the county with $2.5 million in the next year that could be used for bond payments for school projects, he said.
Johnson told school officials that this would enable the county to finance $25 million in school improvements immediately without a tax increase.
A residents' committee recently recommended that the county spend $120 million over the next decade on new schools and renovations.
The committee recommended a three-phase plan. The first phase, estimated to cost $40 million, includes a new high school in South Roanoke County and four other projects in other sections of the county.
Johnson said he doesn't think the county can afford to wait until 1998 to begin school improvements because of the momentum that was generated by the committee's recent report.
"I want to see something happen now," he said. "If we don't move, we might lose an opportunity."
Supervisor Spike Harrison said he also thinks the county needs to proceed swiftly.
Michael Stovall, chairman of the School Board, said school officials will consider the request, but he didn't make an immediate commitment to reduce the budget.
"We're going to have to work together with the supervisors,'' Stovall said after the meeting. "This will have to be a joint effort."
The school budget includes a $300,000 contingency fund that the board had hoped to use for a computer design lab at Cave Spring High School, textbooks, art and band equipment, copiers and other items.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon raised the possibility that the contingency money could be earmarked for debt payments as Johnson requested.
Johnson suggested that school officials free up money for school improvements without reducing pay raises for teachers and other school employees.
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