Monday, April 06, 2009
Roanoke's budget plan: Fee increases instead of tax rate hikes; cuts include elimination of loose leaf collection
The Roanoke City Council reached tentative agreement today on a $257.2 million 2009-’10 budget that includes no tax increases, but does include potential increases in several parking fees and approximately $7.5 million in service reductions.
Those cuts include elimination of the city’s loose leaf collection, reductions in Valley Metro bus service, suspension of the library bookmobile, elimination of daily operation by the police department’s mounted patrol and the closure of branch libraries one day a week.
The council will hold a public hearing on the budget on April 20, with a vote on the package scheduled for May 11. The budget, as currently proposed, would be a $2.7 million decrease from the current fiscal year budget, marking one of the first such decreases in years.
Included in the public hearing will be consideration of a number of parking fee increases. Monthly rates at the Gainsboro Garage and lots at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Warehouse Row, Elmwood and Market are scheduled to go up. Daily rates at all of the lots except for the Higher Education Center are scheduled for an increase as well.
The council is still considering a number of fee increases. If approved, some will include: Fire incident reports will go up from $8 to $10. Vehicles with parking ticket violations will be booted on the third ticket instead of the fifth. Central business district trash collection rates will go up, and the city will establish a new $25 assembly permit fee.
Those cuts include elimination of the city’s loose leaf collection, reductions in Valley Metro bus service, suspension of the library bookmobile, elimination of daily operation by the police department’s mounted patrol and the closure of branch libraries one day a week.
The council will hold a public hearing on the budget on April 20, with a vote on the package scheduled for May 11. The budget, as currently proposed, would be a $2.7 million decrease from the current fiscal year budget, marking one of the first such decreases in years.
Included in the public hearing will be consideration of a number of parking fee increases. Monthly rates at the Gainsboro Garage and lots at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Warehouse Row, Elmwood and Market are scheduled to go up. Daily rates at all of the lots except for the Higher Education Center are scheduled for an increase as well.
The council is still considering a number of fee increases. If approved, some will include: Fire incident reports will go up from $8 to $10. Vehicles with parking ticket violations will be booted on the third ticket instead of the fifth. Central business district trash collection rates will go up, and the city will establish a new $25 assembly permit fee.
