Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 19, 1992 TAG: 9203190457
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY BELL SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This means a person owning a house assessed at $70,000, would pay $35 in taxes to the town, but would still have to pay taxes to Roanoke County.
The county will not set its real-estate tax rate until April. Last year, Vinton residents paid a total of $1.18 per $100 assessed value because the county's rate was $1.13.
Vinton's is one of the lowest town tax rates in Virginia, Town Manager Brad Corcoran said.
The town's new assessment for taxable real estate is $206 million. That's 4.9 percent higher than last year, when it was $196 million.
Council voted to hold the personal property tax rate at $1 per $100 assessed value. On a vehicle valued at $10,000, the tax would be $100.
On another matter, council voted 3-2 to approve a request from the Vinton Old-Time Bluegrass Festival Committee to reconsider a plea for $2,500 to help with the cost of the festival.
"With the economy the way it is, we aren't sure how the sponsorship is going to be," said committee spokeswoman Rhonda Wray. Vinton merchants support the festival through financial donations and cooperative advertising. This year's festival has been expanded to include better-known acts, Wray said.
Responding to a comment from Councilman Don Davis that the festival is already costing the taxpayers several thousand dollars for security and support services, festival supporter Danny McFaddin said, "This is put on for the taxpayers. It doesn't cost them a dime."
Council members Roy McCarty and Ray Sandifer were concerned that the festival committee would continue to request more funds each year.
"We are looking into some things to generate more revenue," Wray said. While she was reluctant to name any, she added, "we are helping the community with sales-tax dollars."
Sandifer made a motion to approve $2,000 of the requested $2,500 provided that no beer would be sold at the festival. The Town of Vinton contributed $1,000 to the festival last year.
In other action:
Council approved a request, pending verification of liability insurance, from the 2nd Virginia Cavalry Co. C to hold a Civil War living history exhibit at the Dogwood Festival.
Council accepted the low bid of Ray D. Miller, auctioneer, for the town's annual surplus equipment auction. Miller will receive 5 percent of gross receipts plus advertising costs.
by CNB