ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
A campaign to inform voters about a $37.4 million bond referendum for a new Cave Spring High School and other projects could be hampered unless the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors decides soon how the bonds will be repaid.
"We need to know this," said Jerry Canada, the county School Board chairman. "People will be asking about it, and they still have not told us."
One option that has been discussed is a 3-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, which now is $1.13. Another option is a 2 percent gasoline tax.
Marty Robison, executive assistant for schools, said Thursday he met with the supervisors this past weekend, but there does not appear to be a consensus on the financial plan for repaying the bonds.
"I asked them to give us feedback as soon as they could," Robison told the School Board.
Canada said school officials will press the supervisors for an answer in the next two weeks so they can begin an informational campaign on the April 2 referendum. The question needs to be settled before school officials begin distributing brochures and videos about the bond issue, he said.
School Board members said they don't want the repayment plan to affect the schools' operating budget and teachers' salaries.
"We are committed to raising our teachers' salaries to the national average in five years, and that has to be separate from this bond issue," said Michael Stovall, the Vinton District member.
Robison briefed the board on the video and draft brochures on the referendum that are being prepared by school officials. The campaign will provide factual information on the bonds, but state law prevents schools from using public funds on materials that urge voters to approve them, he said.
Robison said the schools expect to spend "a minimal amount" for the brochures and video, but he did not have an estimate. The video will be available for parent-teacher associations and other community groups.
PTA leaders in Southwest County plan to organize a campaign to build grass-roots support for the referendum.
Assistant County Attorney Joe Obenshain said board members are free to individually urge voters to approve the referendum, but the board can't spend money on a promotional campaign.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon said several residents have offered to donate money and organize a separate promotional effort, however.
Stovall said he will have a town meeting in Vinton to help rally support for the bonds in his district.
Most of the money is earmarked for the new Cave Spring High, but there are funds for projects in each magisterial district in addition to $1 million for technology equipment in all county schools.
The referendum includes $33.6 million for the new high school; $2.8 million to complete the Northside gym and auditorium project; $800,000 for an addition to Mount Pleasant Elementary School; $150,000 each for architectural and engineering plans for additions to Oak Grove Elementary and William Byrd Middle schools.
Noting that some residents outside Southwest County have complained that other areas would not get much money, Robison said he hopes they "give us a chance to provide information before they say no."
If the referendum is defeated, he said, it could delay improvements at schools throughout the county over the next five years, because it could affect their financing plans.
Construction of the new high school would be delayed, resulting in increased costs to taxpayers, said Robison, who argued that the middle school plan for Southwest County would be postponed indefinitely.
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