Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990 TAG: 9006150309
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: MIKE WOLFE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CLIFTON FORGE LENGTH: Medium
On a 4-0 vote at a special meeting, council kept the $1.20 per $100 real-estate tax rate and the $3.35 per $100 personal-property rate.
Surrounding Alleghany County and nearby Covington have lower tax rates, but council members frequently have discussed the city's pressing needs for modernization of equipment and its water and sewer system.
Mayor Nancy Slusser said that because of those needs, cutting the rate was not indicated. "Why should we cut taxes when we're trying to get capital equipment bought and repairs made?" she said after the meeting.
The mayor, who lost a re-election bid May 1, said that recent purchases of new trucks for the city's public-works department, new police cars and an upgrading of City Hall gave citizens proof that their taxes are being put to good use.
There was "no outcry" after a 1989 property reassessment, she pointed out. There was little or no criticism of the tax level during this year's budget hearings. And no one opposed the tax rate Thursday.
Slusser said the lack of opposition shows "the citizens agree with what we are trying to do."
She added that she could not say whether the new council members will continue this policy of "internal maintenance."
Slusser said the city accomplished its fiscal goals partly because it avoided having legal fees like the $216,000 bill generated by an ill-fated 1987 proposal to consolidate the governments of Clifton Forge, Covington and Alleghany County.
Slusser also noted that expenditures had been held near the current level despite a required 9.4 percent increase in school spending. The city shares a school system with Alleghany County. Under their contract, school spending could not have risen more than 10 percent, Slusser said.
The total proposed city budget for fiscal year 1990-91 is $5,089,302. That amount was approved 3-0, with Slusser abstaining and commenting, "I'm not going to be working with [the budget]."
The 1989-90 budget is $5,117,612, City Manager Steve Carter said , but that amount includes about $750,000 in grants.
Slusser also abstained during a 3-0 vote to grant all city employees a 2 percent cost-of-living raise July 1 and a 3 percent increase on their employment anniversary date. The latter raise will be given only if a satisfactory job performance rating is obtained, Carter said.
Slusser said that while Carter was trying to save the city money by granting just a 2 percent raise, she preferred a higher one. "I get the gist of what you're doing," she told Carter, "but I can't say that I like it."
by CNB