| Sharla Bardin

sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669

BLACKSBURG -- Officials said Tuesday that Blacksburg's budget has not been hit as hard as those in other localities. But that doesn't mean the town won't have to cut back to offset rising expenses for the 2010-11 budget.

The options proposed to help reduce costs include postponing some improvements to a section of the Huckleberry Trail, combining two town publications and cutting the funding for music at the town's Fourth of July celebration.

Also, town employees will not receive raises, said Town Manager Marc Verniel.

Verniel presented the proposed $49.4 million budget Tuesday to the town council, which is expected to adopt the budget in April.

"It's not as bad as it could have been," Verniel told the council.

He said Blacksburg is not as reliant on state funding as, say, Montgomery County, which is being faced with deep state funding cuts. Verniel said the town also doesn't have to provide as many services as the county does, such as a school system.

Still, the town's proposed budget is a $6.8 million decrease from the current $56.2 million budget. Verniel said the current budget includes federal stimulus money that went toward bus replacements for Blacksburg Transit.

He also said there are some "economically sensitive taxes," such as sales, meals and lodging taxes that are experiencing declines or "anemic growth."

"People aren't spending as much," he said.

The town is also facing increases in fuel and utility costs and increases in the Virginia Retirement System and group life insurance contributions.

The options presented to offset rising costs include postponing a project to repave and widen the first two miles of the Huckleberry Trail, from the Blacksburg library to Tech Center Drive.

The project costs $55,000, and the money will be put back in the town's operating budget. Verniel said town officials will consider the project again next year.

Another option is to cut the funding for music for the Fourth of July celebration, which would save the town $10,000. The town has previously paid for groups and the lighting and equipment expenses to put on a musical program at the event. Verniel said the hope is that some groups might volunteer to play for free.

The fireworks display will remain intact for the celebration.

Town officials are also looking at combining the town newsletter, About Town, and the recreation guide, The Recreator, to save about $32,000.

The recommended budget also includes freezing two positions and eliminating a full-time greenskeeper position at the golf course.

A high point for Blacksburg homeowners in the proposed budget is that there is no increase in the real estate tax rate. The current rate is 22 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam said he thinks town employees have looked at ways to save money and do business more efficiently. He also said the town is working to plan ahead financially.

"We're looking at more than just this year's budget and how we can do more with less as we go forward," he said.

The council will again review the proposed budget in a work session on March 23.