
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994                    TAG: 9406150459 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: 940615                                 LENGTH: NORFOLK

RIDDICK WANTS TO ASK VOTERS ABOUT TAX HIKE

{LEAD} City Councilman Paul R. Riddick said Tuesday that the city should ask residents in fall if they would pay a one-time, 7.5-cent real estate tax increase for school improvements and other projects.

Riddick said the money it would raise, about $5 million, should be spent on construction projects in the city. He did not specify which projects, except that some of the money should go to air conditioning the schools.

{REST} ``There are so many things we cannot do in the budget every year,'' Riddick said. ``It would give citizens an opportunity to say, `We're going to take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and do what needs to be done.' ''

The referendum would only be advisory, not binding, Riddick said.

``If the citizens don't want to do it, we won't,'' Riddick said. ``But the referendum itself wouldn't cost us anything because we're already holding an election this fall.''

A one-time, 7.5-cent increase in the real estate tax would cost about $75 for the owner of a $100,000 house.

Councilman Randy Wright said he supports Riddick's idea. The council did not take action and will discuss the idea in a future meeting.

{KEYWORDS} NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL REAL ESTATE TAX

by CNB