Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994 TAG: 9403070137
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEVEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Residents will see modest increases in the cost of their water service, as the town passes on higher wholesale costs of water and continues its five-year plan to convert the service from a money loser to a gainer.
The average water and sewer bill will rise from $28.22 to $29.75 a month, still less than the average $32.33 for Virginia towns, and less than half of Montgomery County's rate, according to Town Manager Ron Secrist's budget proposal.
Garbage collection rates are also expected to climb by about $1.50 for each two-month bill, according to the budget.
The town will spend $18 million out of its seven separate funds if Secrist's proposal is approved. Six of those funds are nontax driven. The general fund, the largest of the seven, is the only one affected by taxes.
"The long and short of it is this budget recommends no tax increases," Secrist said. "We are seeing an improved economic situation in Blacksburg and the county."
Secrist is banking on continued improved consumer spending to bring in more tax revenues to help fund his $10.4 million general fund budget, the town's largest ever.
Part of that money will go toward giving town employees a 4 percent raise, double this year's 2 percent; raises the year before were1.5 percent. The budget also calls for a pay-for-performance allotment.
The town also will spend more than $80,000 for its part in maintaining a park and gym at the new Blacksburg elementary school on Prices Fork Road scheduled to open in August. Maintenance personnel, crossing guards, referees and a recreation assistant will have to be hired.
"It'll be like having another community center over there," Secrist said.
Secrist is recommending that the town invest $19,000 to network its planning and engineering department. Computers will enable data sharing and electronic mail, and will provide access to the Blacksburg Electronic Village.
The technology component will become a regular thing in future budgets as the town tries to use one-time expenditures to enable existing employees to do their work more efficiently and inexpensively, instead of hiring more workers who would cost more over the years, Secrist said.
"We're going to rely more and more upon technology to make us work quicker, smarter," he said. Nationally, "I think we're a little behind the curve."
The general-fund budget calls for $8.14 million to be spent on operating costs, $1.36 million on capital improvements, and $953,000 for payment of debts.
Secrist is recommending that the town dip into its fund balance for $300,000 to help drive the general-fund budget. The town tries to keep the balance at about 10 percent of its operating revenues for emergency use. At the end of last year, it was at 14.8 percent, so there is money for the taking, he said.
"As a government, you are supposed to be prudent, but you don't want to be storing up money," Secrist said.
Secrist will present the budget to Town Council at its meeting Tuesday.
Council will hold a series of work sessions and a public hearing to consider changes before adopting the budget, which it is scheduled to enact near the end of April.
"As a professional, it's my responsibility to throw it out there," Secrist said. "I bat first, so here it is."
by CNB