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About a dozen people turned out Tuesday afternoon for the Christiansburg Town Council Finance Committee meeting, which was until a few days ago, a well-keep secret.
The committee, which met at 3 p.m., had been formed to discuss and make needed changes to the upcoming FY 2008-2009 Town Budget. Very few people, if any, knew about the meeting until it was made public late last week in another news source. The meeting was posted on the Public Notices Bulletin Board at Christiansburg Town Council, which is located next to backside of an elevator on the first floor toward the rear of the building next to the entrance into the building and planning offices. The meeting was not listed on the town’s website, which Town Manager Lance Terpenny, said in article that he thought had been idle. In fact, the town’s website has not been updated in several months. Five copies of a 32-page budget handout breaking down the town’s budget for FY 2008-09 was prepared for those in attendance. Extra copies had to be made. In a memo, which was dated April 28, 2008, attached to the budget breakdown, from Terpenny and addressed to the Finance Committee and Mayor stated: “Find enclosed tentative budget for review and discussion. There is very little change from the current budget, i.e. no new projects, capital equipment, or personnel. Due to the economic climate revenue projections show little to no increase over the current year, yet anticipated operating expenses are up.” “The tentative budget includes increases in building permit fees and Parks and Recreation program fees. The Enterprise Fund continues to be supplemented from the General Fund and we will be discussing possible increases to water, sewer and solid waste services.” “The budget reflects no increases in any taxes and only those capital projects previously committed to. A three percent (3%) cost of living increase for all full time permanent employees, Town Council, Clerk, and Attorneys is included. This is a bare bones budget and discussions should include increase in fees and taxes or discontinuance of specific services.” “The excellent quality of life that draws people to Christiansburg cannot be maintained without increasing revenues. Continuing infrastructure upgrades, capital projects and equipment, along with added personnel are essential to meeting demands of our growing diverse population.” The proposed FY 2008-2009 budget is $41,033, 386. Projected revenues for FY 2008-2009 was listed as $38,376,830. “We are $2.6 million away from balancing the budget,” Terpenny told the committee. Some of the items included in the budget at this time includes $295,000 for a new console and phone system for the police department; a repeater at $7,500 for the rescue squad; a new firing range for the police department at $12,000; a backhoe for the Street Department at the cost of $65,000; a turn lane for the aquatic center at the cost of $50,000; $30,000 for thoroughfare; bridge repair for the North Franklin Street Bridge at $300,000; engineering $20,000; Bus Transit at $103,000. As for the controversial Aquatic Center, $100,000,000 was set aside for Furnishings and Equipment; a new pickup truck at $20,000; Site work at $1,300,000; Aquatic Road $800,000; and $10,300,000 for Aquatic Center. A request for $16,000 for a new car for the aquatic center was eliminated from the budget. Some items eliminated so far from the budget were $650,000 in Plant Mix, which means there will be no street paving in FY 2008-2009. A request for four (4) new police cars at the cost of $96,000 and two (2) SUV at $50,000; six new light bars at $14,200; six Alco-Sensors at $3,000; six (6) radar units at $9,200; and body armor and vests at $8,900 were some of the multitude of other items already deleted from the proposed budget from the various town departments. A request for a new planner, project engineer, a police captain, a detective, two new police officers and a dispatcher were not recommended. “At some time down the road, but not in FY 2008-09, we are going to have to look at real estate tax increase,” said councilman Mike Barbour. “In order to provide the services that everybody is use too, this could come.” A public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th, at town council chambers concerning the new proposed budget. Photo: (Top left) Members of the Christiansburg Town Finance Committee discus the proposed FY 2008-2009 Budget during a meeting Tuesday afternoon. (Right) The Public Notices Bulletin Board is located near the middle of town hall. (Photo by David Grimes)
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