Share
The Blacksburg Town Council met yesterday to discuss the 2009 fiscal year budget with the main topic of discussion being a request by the Chief of Police to add five extra personnel: four police officers and one communications officer to the Blacksburg unit.
To cover the cost of the five additional personnel, a one-cent meal tax increase was proposed.
There has not been an increase in officers since 1994, and police said there is now a huge need for more personnel and upgraded equipment. Downtown altercations have required officers to leave their patrols to respond to incidents. Blacksburg Police has had to bring people off duty to effectively cover the downtown area and it has been utilizing its overtime budget. There are currently 38 sworn positions and four vacancies in patrol.
The police are also asking for $90,000 from the budget toward the $240,000 needed by 2010 to upgrade equipment.
The agenda also addressed the Water and Sewer Fund. The Public Works Department requested $2,960 for the Miss Utility Program Support, and mentioned the progress on the water main replacement projects, including sanitary sewer upgrades. For the Equipment Operations Fund, it asked for $12,500 for plug-ins for Hybrid vehicles. $72,048 will be needed to pay for adjusted fuel expenses.
Several recycling initiations are planned for the fiscal year 2008-2009. The Public Works Department asked for a continued partnership with the YMCA on its Electronic Recycling Program, which will cost $20,000 and will aim to improve the handling of old light bulbs, computers, batteries, and other electronics.
The next meeting will take place next Tuesday, April 1.
Leave a comment 2 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
The Town could really stand to have First & Main come in...looking at how they're going to need the additional funding for all of these projects. Town residents can't be expected to foot the increased expenses too much longer, Blacksburg is already far more expensive than any other locality in the NRV.
Reply to this Top
In large part, John, it's because the high business taxes here make it far more lucrative to operate a business in Christiansburg. I'm with you - First and Main (complete with the dreaded 'big box' store) is going to revitalize the community by decreasing the strain on existing businesses and homeowners and consequently lowering the tax rate here, making Blacksburg an attractive business location.
Reply to this Top