Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990 TAG: 9006210053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
"It's a ticklish decision," Councilman Nick Glenn said. "I don't think anyone likes it."
"We've gone through each department, eliminating everything we thought we could eliminate and still perform the services of the town," Vice Mayor Jim Neighbors said of the proposed budget, which includes about $4.46 million for the general fund.
"We looked at the meals tax but decided not to touch it - it was high enough. We looked at the motor vehicle fees. But it all came back to real estate, personal property tax and utilities - all are necessities."
But the increases - a projected 5 percent increase for real estate and personal property taxes and a 2.5 percent increase for utility taxes - still will be hard for some citizens to handle.
"I'm afraid of raising taxes," said Max Trumpeter, who owns a bakery in Pulaski. "I don't like to see any increases. The town is not booming now. I would like to see us do with what we are already doing with."
Other citizens said that those on fixed incomes would have a problem handling any increase, no matter how small.
"A whole lot of people in Pulaski can't afford it," said one man. "I work eight hours a day and can pay my bills and that's it."
Jim Griffith, regional manager for Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co., agreed. "The people with lower incomes will be hit by this the same as everyone else," he said. "I'm asking that you keep the increase on the utility tax as small as you can."
Council will hold a hearing on the proposed increases Tuesday.
In other business, council accepted a $500 bid from C&P Telephone that will allow the company to continue serving as the franchise for the town for the next 40 years.
C&P originally was granted a 30-year term in 1960.
No other companies offered bids.
by CNB