DATE: Thursday, May 22, 1997                TAG: 9705220476

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   63 lines

SUFFOLK OKS BUDGET WITH TAX AND FEE INCREASES

More than six weeks of residents' pleas for more education money came to a close Wednesday night as the Suffolk City Council unanimously approved next year's expense list.

The council adopted a $143.1 million operating budget that includes several tax and fee increases.

The 1997-98 budget is about $500,000 less than what was originally proposed.

The council initially said it would provide $62.2 million for education but decided in a work session Wednesday to lower the amount to $61.6 million.

The council also voted to give the School Board at least $430,000 in additional funds at a later date.

The schools had asked for $63.9 million, hoping the council would agree that the money was needed to support a 5 percent to 7 percent increase in student population for the third straight year and a 4 percent raise to bring the school system's 1,400 employees to the same level as neighboring cities.

City officials said the additional $600,000 sought by the schools was based on the assumption that there would be a 7 percent enrollment increase next year. Instead, the council elected to give the schools enough money to support growth of 5 percent.

Finance Director Christine Ledford said if there is more than a 5 percent increase once school opens in September, the school system can ask the council for additional state funding.

School Superintendent Joyce H. Trump said after the meeting that the School Board will have to make some tough decisions.

A meeting has been scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Tuesday at Nansemond River High School to decide what projects the school system can fund within the city's budget.

``We'll have to take a look at funding the daytime alternative school and the raises,'' Trump said.

The School Board had hoped to open a separate daytime alternative school for students.

In recent months, residents and school officials crowded council chambers during public hearings on the operating budget, pleading for city officials to give the schools the requested $63.9 million.

Dwane Sherrick, a parent of two children, told the council members during the meeting Wednesday that not funding the entire school budget meant they had not listened to the residents.

``It seems to me that you don't care and you don't understand,'' Sherrick said. ``Yes, there are children who have to share science textbooks. I hope your conscious can sleep tonight because of what you've done.''

In the budget, residents will also have to pay more for cigarettes, cellular phone use, water and sewer service and building inspections, starting in July.

Smokers will pay a tax of 25 cents per pack, instead of the current rate of 20 cents.

Cellular phone users will pay a $3 monthly tax.

Building inspection fees will go up from $1 to $3, depending on the category.

Sewer rates will rise from $1.45 per 100 cubic feet to $1.49. Water rates will increase from $2.89 per 1,000 gallons to $2.98 per 1,000 gallons.

In other business, the council voted to move the time that residents are allowed to speak before starting the agenda to 6:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. KEYWORDS: BUDGET SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL

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