Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010020
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In land size, the new city would be the largest in Virginia and the fifth largest in the United States.
The current city of Bedford would become a shire - a government similar to a town - within a larger city made up of the current county.
The shire would be able to annex land by ordinance from the surrounding city. But the land to be annexed must be urban in nature, and the shire must provide services such as water, sewer, garbage pickup and police protection within two years of annexation.
Taxes won't go up because of consolidation, unless you live in what is now the county and are annexed by the shire.
As a city, Bedford County would be free of the threat of annexation by Lynchburg if a state moratorium on annexation is lifted. Though Lynchburg has said it's not interested, some county residents fear it would try to annex the Forest area, which makes up about one-third of the county's tax base.
The Board of Supervisors would become a city council. County districts would become wards, one of which would include the shire. Special elections for offices in the consolidated city and shire would have to be held next year.
Cities in Virginia can have expanded taxing powers that counties do not. If allowed in their charters by the General Assembly, cities can incur large debts by general obligation bond without a referendum. Cities also can levy meals taxes, lodging taxes and cigarette taxes by ordinance.
Some city and county offices and services would merge, such as social services, the health departments, animal control, building inspections, planning and community development. Later, the city and county offices of commissioner of revenue and treasurer would merge.
But because no positions will be eliminated initially, the city and county aren't claiming there will be any savings at first.
Depending on the decision of the federal government, county post offices could lose their local names. All addresses would then probably be just "Bedford."
Bedford and Bedford County will not compete for industry.
City and county seals and stationery will change.
WHAT HAPPENS IF . . . THEY DON'T
City and county taxpayers won't see any return from the more than $50,000 that has been spent so far on fees associated with consolidation.
Bedford County still will be subject to annexation by Lynchburg if the state lifts a moratorium on annexation, which expires in 1997. There is a proposal facing the State Commission on Local Government in which Lynchburg has pledged not to annex land in Bedford County for 20 years, but annexation lawyers say it probably won't be approved.
If the General Assembly acts on proposals for some cities to revert to towns, Bedford County could have to worry about Lynchburg wanting to be included in Bedford County. Or Roanoke reverting to a town and annexing land eastward, according to some county officials.
City and county governments stay the same.
Post office names stay the same.
Annexation of county land by Bedford could result in more costly legal battles for taxpayers in both localities. The last one cost city and county residents about $300,000.
It would be tougher for Bedford to annex land from the county than under consolidation.
by CNB