THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200418
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 66 lines
After hearing residents rip City Council's week-old raises, the council voted unanimously Wednesday to decrease its raises by more than half.
Suffolk residents also had their say in standing-room-only council chambers against increased real estate assessments.
Last week, the Council increased its salaries by $10,000 a year, boosting the council members' pay from $8,000 to $18,000 and the mayor's from $10,000 to $20,000.
The raise had been based on a 1985 ordinance that set a state cap, based on population, that allowed Suffolk officials an increase of up to $10,000.
The council amended that ordinance Wednesday to set a local cap of $4,000. Under the the amendment, council members will make $12,000 this year, and the mayor will receive $14,000.
The motion to change the cap was made by Vice Mayor Curtis R. Milteer, who had supported the raise that passed by a 4-3 vote last week.
Said Milteer of his change of heart: ``A wise man changes often.''
Mayor S. Chris Jones, councilwoman Marian ``Bea'' Rogers and Councilman Richard R. Harris voted against the increases last week and had urged the body to consider rescinding the ordinance allowing the higher raise cap.
Jones and Rogers last week had pledged to give their $10,000 increases to charity. On Wednesday, Rogers said she would still give part of her raise to charity. Jones said he would donate the full $4,000. Harris stepped down from the council June 30.
The last City Council raise was in 1984, Rogers said.
Residents not only have spoken out against salary increases, but also have complained about increased real estate assessments.
About 150 angry residents poured into City Council chambers to protest the assessments Wednesday. Total assessments have increased 6.84 percent, up from last year's 1.33 pecent.
Longtime residents say their property taxes are being raised in unfair proportions, and that their money is going to pay for new development while their neighborhoods are ignored.
Real estate assessor Maria R. Kattmann gave a brief report to City Council, saying that her office has had some glitches as it moved its records to an automated computer system.
The office is working to correct possible computer errors and trying to rectify inequitable assessments in various neighborhoods.
``If we have numerous calls from a neighborhood, we will go out into the neighborhood,'' Kattmann said.
But Kattmann's report did not go over well with citizens at the meeting.
Susan Lewis said that although state law requires that assessments be ``fair and equitable,'' there was nothing fair about Suffolk's.
``No one has faith in their government anymore,'' Lewis said. ``Let's begin by restoring faith by listening to the citizens.''
One by one, citizens - representing just themselves or entire neighborhoods - publicly opposed the assessment process.
Charles M. Brooks said his assessed value went up $54,000.
``I'm retired. I'm on a fixed income,'' Brooks said. ``The assessor's office treated me kindly and courteous, but still, $54,000 - there's no reason it should go up that much.''
Kattmann said her appraisers will make site inspections next month. If citizens are not satisfied with recommendations made by the assessor's office, they can appeal before the Board of Equalizations on July 26 at City Council chambers.
KEYWORDS: REAL ESTATE TAXES SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL RAISES
by CNB