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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/30/1982 - Special 3-30-82 351 Board of Supervisors Cave Spring High School Auditorium Roanoke, Virginia March 30, 1982 I The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, met this day in open session in the Auditorium of the Cave Spring High School, Roanoke, Virginia, this being a special meeting for the Cave Spring and Windsor Hills Districts on March 30, 1982. Members present: Chairman Edward C. Park, Jr., Vice-Chairman Athena E. Burton, and Supervisors May W. Johnson, Robert E. Myers and Gary J. Minter. Members Absent: None IN RE: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Park called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. IN RE: INVOCATION AND PLEDGE Rev. Samuel Crews offered invocation for this meeting and the Pledge I of Allegiance to the Flag was recited in unison. IN RE: OPENING STATEMENTS Chairman Park welcomed the citizens in attendance and stated this meeting is the first of which will be held in each magisterial district this year for the purpose of information and no official business to be conducted. Supervisor Johnson also welcomed the citizens to the meeting and expressed her wish that more people had come to the meeting. Supervisor Burton further expressed her thanks and appreciation to those in attendance. She noted that she had asked for this type of meeting to be held in each of the magisterial districts during the 1982 Organizational I meeting held in January. Mrs. Burton said she hoped the citizens would take advantage of these meetings to come and express their concerns and approvals/ disapprovals to the Board. IN RE: PRESENTATIONS Tim Gubala, County Planner, presented an informative slide program along with statistics and facts on the County's structure and progress since --- ~ ~ 3-30-82 352 its inception in 1838. Mr. Gubala cited figures on population, employees, square miles, and its heritage. Further background was given on the growth of Roanoke County as far as certain businesses, land use and its present status for rural, farm-use and residential area. I Darrell Shell, Director, Parks and Recreation, also presented a slide program to inform citizens of the numerous programs the Recreation Department offers to all county residents, old and young. He informed of the I parks and facilities available to the citizens of these two magisterial districts and other areas of the County. I: I I 11 John Chambliss, Director of Finance, presented a graphic report of the .population growth in relation to services provided by the County and cost versus the increases anticipated for each. He further reported the outstanding short-term and long-term debts and expenses of the County. IN RE: INTRODUCTION OF DEPARTMENT HEADS I Administrator Flanders introduced the department heads on hand and asked the citizens to talk with them after the meeting relative to any concerns they might have. IN RE: CITIZENS' COMMENTS Mr. Stan Reas was present and inquired of the purpose for this meeting since he did not see publication of the meeting. Chairman Park informed him. Mr. Reas further stated he did not want more than a 25% increase over last year's tax increase. Mr. Roger Smith stated his opinion that while the County has its financial problems, the citizens cannot tax their employers to make ends I meet and therefore did not feel the County should be allowed to do so. He felt that the County had mismanaged previous County funds by using revenue sharing and annexation payments from the City of Roanoke in the 'General Funds rather than for capital improvements. Now, it appears these funds are not available and the taxes will have to be increased. He made reference to potential sources of revenue for local units of government through initiation I J ., 3-30-82 353 of lottery and horse racing legislation by the State. IN RE: SUPERVISORS' COMMENTS I Supervisor Minter reported that since his taking office, many complaints have been received concerning road repairs and acceptance of streets into the State Secondary System; and citizens trying to get cable TV. He further stated that no one wanted to increase taxes but the County's expenses have increased for things which they cannot control such as electricty, etc. and they have no other way to meet these expenses. Mr. Minter further noted that employees deserve a salary increase. Citizens were encouraged to attend the budget hearings to provide input. I Supervisor Johnson stated that Mr. Minter had said about all of the same viewpoint she had. Mrs. Johnson reminded the citizens that Board members are also taxpayers and must bear the same tax burden as their constit- uents. She further stated that former County Administrator William Clark advised them during 1976-81 that they were using those annexation and revenue sharing funds to balance the budget "but it was so nice not to have to raise the citizens' taxes. But we used it and we're very sorry now. It's time now to bite the bullet." Supervisor Burton commented that hindsight is better than foresight, but "since we are where we are, we have to pick up and go from there." She concurred with Mr. Smith that in the past, funds were mismanaged and the County wi~l have to be put in sound financial condition if 'we are to grow.' Mrs. Burton expressed the viewpoint that Roanoke County is still the best bargain in the valley. I Supervisor Myers reiterated that the funds were not 'mismanaged' tha it was put to the best possible use for the County - to defray County costs. He informed that governments are not allowed to 'put away' large amounts of money when preparing budgets. Mr. Myers felt he wanted to set the record straight. r- 3-30-82 354 Chairman Park expressed essentially the same viewpoint as Superviso Myers. He added that citizens were happy during those years the County did not increase taxes. "There's no way at that time you citizens would have wanted a tax increase." Mr. Park reminded the citizens what dollar values were at that time in comparison with today's dollar. Mr. Park said he was tired of being accused of being derelict in his duties - "we were trying to keep money in your pocket." I IN RE: ADJOURNMENT On motion of Supervisor Minter and a unanimous voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. $ I I