Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 11, 1990 TAG: 9006110143
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
In return, Dublin will get a full-time town administrator for the first time and will be able to set aside $50,000 in a reserve fund - among other things.
The proposed spending plan is set for a public hearing Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Dublin Branch Library.
"These are things that need to be done," said Gary Elander, who was hired in February as a part-time administrator/consultant. "It's just a matter of dollars and cents."
The proposed budget, put together by Elander, Mayor Benny Keister and the town's Finance Committee, reflects an increase of nearly 27 percent - or about $331,000 - over the fiscal 1989 forecast.
"There's nothing extra in there," said Elander.
On the revenue side, the plan proposes no changes in the real or personal property tax rates. However, if Town Council approves the budget later this month, the meals tax would climb from two to four percent, and vehicle stickers would jump from $10 to $20, starting July 1. Those two increases would bring an additional estimated $53,277 into the town's general fund over the next year.
More dramatic revenue increases are projected for the newly designated "Enterprise Fund," which includes the water and sewer accounts. Within that category, revenues from water sales will rise by almost $230,000.
But, total water and sewer expenditures are up over $200,000 from last year's budget forecast.
In a memorandum attached to the budget proposal, Elander said an analysis of the past nine months of billings turned up a monthly shortfall of over $5,000 in water revenues.
"This amount needs to be made up within a rate increase," he said.
Under the proposed budget, in-town residential customers will pay at least $8.50 a month for water, while out-of-towners will pay at least $12.50.
Some of the additional revenue will fund $30,000 of the planned $50,000 reserve fund, as well as cover debt service on a Farmers Home Administration loan for a utility extension project.
Garbage collection fees and a new container rental charge will increase those service charge revenues by an estimated $29,762. But new landfill fees will mean the town will have to spend $38,000 this coming year.
Residential garbage collection fees will climb from $3.00 to $5.50 a month for town residents, and from $3.50 to $6.50 for out-of-town customers.
Sewer rates would stay the same.
Elander said the town administration will continue beefed-up efforts to collect delinquent taxes. "We're making an impact," he said, noting that the town has collected some $8,500 in delinquent accounts over the past three months. However, he estimated around $75,000 remain to be collected.
To trim expenditures, the budget calls for cutting one position in the Utility Department. Elander said the town now has 25 employees.
Town employee raises under the proposal would average four percent.
Elander also said the town would save $32,800 a year by joining the state's Blue Cross/Blue Shield pool.
by CNB