ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 22, 1997 TAG: 9704220064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
Highlights from City Manager Bob Herbert's $161 million recommended fiscal 1998 city budget:
Winners:
City workers - Herbert is recommending an average 3.3 percent raise beginning July 1, which would cost taxpayers $1.9 million next year. It's the smallest pay increase in four years, coming after average pay increases of 4.5 percent handed out for the 1997 budget year; 4.7 percent awarded in fiscal 1996; and 3.8 percent in 1995. Herbert is also recommending the city beef up pension benefits for rank-and-file workers by matching their contributions to a pension fund by up to $130 per employee annually, whicThe budget recommends cutting the current real estate rate of $1.23 per $100 of assessed value to $1.22 beginning Jan. 1. The cut would save the owner of the average $67,500 home about $3.38 in the next fiscal year. But rising assessments, which increased an average of 3 percent this year, will more than wipe out the savings.
City school system - Overall local funding for schools is slated to increase $1.88 million under a local revenue sharing formula. But that figure would be $64,453 higher if there was no reduction in the real estate tax rate.
Cellular telephone users - Under one option in the budget, council could impose a $3 per month tax on cellular phone bills beginning Sept. 1. That would cover the amount of revenue lost by cutting the real estate rate, and leave the school system whole.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB