Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990 TAG: 9003222240
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The figures were prepared by the town staff from proposed budgets for the Roanoke Metropolitan Government. Town Manager George Nester is asking residents of the town and the eastern part of the county to look over the figures and find out what consolidation will mean to them.
Nester said Tuesday night that rumors are going around about what the change in government might cost. "I think it's just fear of the unknown," he said.
"Vinton's at a disadvantage" in promoting consolidation, Nester said. Many people have the misconception that because Vinton residents pay taxes to both the town and the county, they are paying "double taxes."
Licensing and utility taxes would remain the same for Vinton residents, but decrease for residents of the areas to be annexed. Water and sewer charges should remain the same for town residents and those county residents who already receive water and sewer service from the town.
Here are some examples of how the changes would affect residents. Copies of tables showing sample assessments and tax bills are available at the town manager's office.
A Vinton resident lives in a house assessed at $60,000 and drives a car that's worth $5,000. He uses about 16,425 gallons of water a year. He pays $5.83 a month to the town for water and sewer service. His electric bill adds up to $80 a month and his telephone bill is $20 a month.
Because he is a full-fledged resident of both Vinton and Roanoke County, he pays a total of $1,048.60 a year in taxes to both governments.
He stands to gain from the consolidation. Although his automobile license, energy tax and telephone utility tax all would go up, and his water and sewer charges remain the same, he would be paying 5 cents less for each $100 of value on his real estate and personal property, and his total tax bill would be reduced by $32.50 a year to $1,016.46. He would be living in a town with a larger tax base, and he would be getting the same level of service for less money.
Another resident lives in east Roanoke County, in the proposed annexation area.
Her home also is valued at $60,000 and her car at $5,000. Her water use is the same as the Vinton resident's, as are her utility bills. Because Vinton already provides water and sewer service, her bill also is $5.83 per month.
Because she pays taxes to the county only, her personal property and real estate tax bills are lower. Her auto license fee is twice that of a Vinton resident, and she pays $1.80 more on both her energy and telephone utility tax.
Her total yearly tax bill is $976.56. If the consolidation plan is approved, her automobile license fee would be the same as the Vinton resident's, as would the utility taxes. Water and sewer charges would stay the same.
But because her neighborhood would be classified as a "suburban service area," the same designation that caused the Vinton resident's taxes to decrease, her real estate and property taxes would be increased, even though the tax rate itself would be lower. Because she would be paying taxes to both Vinton and the metro government, she would pay $30.90 more each year in taxes, for a total of $1,016.46.
If consolidation takes place without annexation, east county residents who do not get sewer and water service from Vinton would be in the same position as other county residents.
A resident owns real estate valued at $60,000 and a car valued at $5,000. The family uses 16,425 gallons of water a year. Water and sewer service from the county costs $15 per month. Their energy bill is $80 a month, and the telephone bill adds up to about $20. Water and sewer charges are $180 per month.
Currently, they pay $1,086.60 a year to Roanoke County in taxes. If consolidation is approved, real estate and personal property taxes would go down, auto license fees and water and sewer charges would stay the same, and energy and telephone utility taxes would go up. They also would be paying an $8.40 water and sewer utility tax that Vinton residents won't have to pay. The total increase in taxes would be $26.90 per year, for a total of $1,112.90.
by CNB