The city’s proposed budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year does not include increases to tax rates, a trend for the past several budget years.
Radford City Manager David Ridpath said Monday the budget does not include any new positions or major equipment and has been balanced without higher tax rates. The only proposed increased cost to residents is two dollars a month for solid waste pick-up. Ridpath said that increase allows the city to keep doing auxiliary services like leaf collection and Christmas tree pick up with no additional fees to customers and pay for the regional waste disposal of the city’s trash.
During a work session prior to Monday’s regular city council meeting, Councilman Rob Gropman made a motion to increase the real estate tax rate by two cents, but the motion was defeated three-to-two with Vice Mayor Dick Harshberger voting in favor and Mayor Dr. Bruce Brown and Councilmen Keith Marshall and Michael Turk voting against it. Citizens have an opportunity to make comments on the budget at a public hearing set for Monday, April 17 at 6 p.m. A copy of the budget is available for public view at www.radfordva.gov.
Also during Monday’s council meeting, council got an update about the programs and goings-on at the Radford Public Library from Executive Director Elizabeth Sensabaugh
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