ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997 TAG: 9704230037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LESLIE HAGER-SMITH THE ROANOKE TIMES
STAFF WRITER LISA APPLEGATE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY.
Radford real-estate rate goes up in July.
Radford residents will see their real-estate tax rate go up from 68 cents to 70 cents per $100 of valuation beginning July 1.
The nearly $50 million budget adopted Monday represents a 5 percent overall increase from the present spending plan. The increase will fund a new pay plan for city employees; possible construction in the central business district; and improvements to library, senior center and park facilities.
The five-member City Council voted 3 to 1 in favor of the increase, with one member absent.
Councilman Dave Worrell, who has opposed real-estate tax increases throughout his 13-year tenure, had suggested at last week's public hearing that any proceeds from a tax increase be designated exclusively for the support of the city schools.
His motion died for lack of a second; without the rider he was unwilling to support a tax increase. Councilwoman Annyce Levy arrived late for Monday's final action, but had voted in favor of the measure previously, when it was on its first reading.
The School Board had requested $4.8 million from the city. Council granted the same 3 percent increase given to other city agencies, plus enough additional to make an even $200,000 increase - a total of $4.3 million.
Teachers and School Board members have criticized council for restricting school funds to two reserve accounts, one for new technology initiatives and one for debt service on a $1.5 million loan the schools received from council last year. That essentially left just over $9,000 in unrestricted new funds from the city.
The action will mean teacher pay increases of only 2 percent - the School Board originally proposed a 4 percent increase for most teachers - and significant cuts in supplies, according to School Superintendent Michael Wright.
In a work session held recently, the Radford City School Board cut $412,000 from its budget. It took away faculty positions such as two aides for special education and a part-time testing position, and technology spending for items such as software for the schools' new computers.
The board also moved Social Security payments for cafeteria workers to a cafeteria fund, a change that will require a 10-cent increase in lunch prices.
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