
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995                   TAG: 9508170027
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY RAY REED STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VEGAS EXPECTS FEDERAL RED INK TO KEEP FLOWING

Q: In all the talk about our government balancing its budget, what is the basis for saying they're going to get it balanced in seven years or 10 years? What do the English bookies have to say about that?

L.U., Blacksburg A: The realistic basis involves setting a goal that's reachable. Placing the deadline years in the future does two things.

First, the government admits its budget can't be balanced in one year, or even three. But it can be done on a realistic timetable.

Second, the politicians retain deniability. If the goal isn't reached, they can blame the opposition or people who've lost elections in the meantime.

For an oddsmaker's opinion, I asked Michael ``Roxy'' Roxborough, one of Las Vegas' better-known experts in the field.

Strictly for entertainment purposes, Roxborough gave an off-the-cuff price:

``I'd say it's 3-1 against'' balancing the budget by the year 2002 and 2-1 against by 2005, Roxborough said. ``In other words, I don't think they can do it.''

Vegas gamblers can't bet on a balanced budget, though; Nevada bookmaking is limited to sports events.

Bookies in England, Ireland and Mexico take oddball wagers on U.S. presidential elections and political issues such as passage of the NAFTA trade agreement. But if there's a betting line overseas on the U.S. budget, no one contacted in Las Vegas was aware of it.|

Pipeline progress

Q: What is going on with the large green pipes along Garst Mill Road? They've been working two months and gotten 200 yards installed, but they've got half-a-mile of pipe laid out.

J.W., Roanoke A: The green pipe is an upgrade of the sewer lines.

The color is worth noting because several pipe projects are under way elsewhere in the valley. Some pipes, of black, ductile iron, are new waterlines for the Spring Hollow reservoir.

The green pipes are ribbed polyvinyl chloride, which looks and feels like plastic.

The old sewer lines, made of concrete and installed about 40 years ago, are cracking and may allow ground water into the lines, where it presses the sewage treatment plant's capacity.

The job you describe replaces the Mud Lick interceptor from Garst Mill Park to the city limits. It will join a line the city upgraded about three years ago.

Roanoke County hopes to complete the sewer project by fall. The work is on schedule and is going on at several points along the line, which may be the reason the site you've been observing is active only once in a while.|

Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by CNB