Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 27, 1994 TAG: 9407270071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Seventeen of Virginia's 20 most financially stressed local governments are cities, said the report by the Commission on Local Government. The report analyzed 1991-92 data, the most recent year for which complete numbers were available.
``Despite years of effort, we're not seeing cities climb out of their predicament,'' said M.H. Wilkinson, the commission's executive director. ``With each passing year, the situation in the cities becomes more difficult.''
The commission's stress index factors in property values, retail sales, adjusted gross income, personal property tax collections and other data to calculate the stress levels for 136 cities and counties.
Norfolk topped the financially stressed list, a distinction it has held for several years. Emporia was second, and Petersburg was third. Others in the top 10, in order, were Charles City, Galax, Portsmouth, Covington, Richmond, Hopewell and Roanoke.
Generally, the same cities and counties have been among the 20 most-stressed localities since 1988-89, when the current calculation method was adopted.
Only four of the localities with the lowest stress level were cities - Falls Church, Alexandria and Fairfax in Northern Virginia and the small peninsula city of Poquoson.
The least financially stressed locality was Bath County, followed by Loudoun County, Falls Church, Surry County, Fairfax County and Fauquier County. Both Bath and Surry counties get substantial tax revenue from Virginia Power plants.
The situation facing Virginia's cities has prompted business leaders and officials from 12 localities to form the Partnership for Urban Virginia to explore urban problems.
``There's no way in the world that we can have sick cities and a healthy commonwealth,'' said Warner Dalhouse, chairman and chief executive officer of First Union National Bank of Virginia and a board member of the newly formed partnership.
Dalhouse said such city problems as poverty, crime, an aging population, stagnant or declining property values and a shortage of industrial sites also hurt surrounding counties.
by CNB