HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 04-23-90 SpMtgROANOKE CITY COUNCIL -- SPECIAL MEETING
~onday, April 23, 1990 -- 7:30 p.m.
Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall
2.
3.
4.
Call to Order.
Roll Call.
Invocation· The Honorable Noel C. Taylor.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America.
Statement of Purpose. The Honorable Noel C. Taylor, Mayor·
Public hearing to receive comments of citizens with regard to
the City ~anager's recommended budget for fiscal year
1990-91; and with regard to the real estate tax rate,
increased cigarette tax rate and motor vehicle license tax
rate for fiscal year 1990-91.
PUBLIC HEARING
FISCAL YEAR 1990-1991 BUDGET
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1990
ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER EXHIBIT HALL
GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
IT IS A PRIVILEGE FOR THE ELECTED AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS OF
THE CITY OF ROANOKE TO HOST THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ROANOKE CITY
BUDGET AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 1990-91. THIS
PUBLIC HEARING IS ALSO OPEN FOR ANY COMMENTS OR REMARKS REGARDING TAX
RATES IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE.
OUR CITY IS A PROGRESSIVE CITY AND OUR CHIEF CONCERN IS
INVOLVEMENT OF OUR CITIZENS AS
RECOMMEND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, BUT TO
WE SEEK TO ADDRESS
THAT WILL ENABLE US
ORGANIZE OURSELVES
THE
FUTURE TRENDS AND
TO NOT ONLY SERVE
IN SUCH A WAY TO
THE YEAR 2000.
OF SERVICES TO
EXPERIENCE CONTINUING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
OUR CITY HAS ALWAYS HAD A BIG HEART -- A PROVIDER
ITS CITIZENS AND AN ESPECIALLY BIG CONCERN FOR ITS DISADVANTAGED, OUR
POOR AND OUR ELDERLY. ROANOKE IS INDEED A CITY OF THE FUTURE AND WE
NEED THE REVENUE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SCHOOLS,
OUR STREETS, OUR STORM DRAINS, OUR BRIDGES AND MANY OTHER ESSENTIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THIS COUNCIL HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
MAKING TOUGH AND SOMETIMES UNPOPULAR DECISIONS. OUR RESOURCE
LIMITATIONS REQUIRE CAREFUL CHOICES; HOWEVER, WE KNOW ON THE POSITIVE
SIDE THAT NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARE EMERGING AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO
CONTINUE OUR FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
I MUST ADMIT THAT I HAVE BEEN SAD AT HEART AS I HAVE WATCHED THE
WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY. IN
(1)
FACT, THE WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL FUNDS HAD AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY. YET, WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR FINE SYSTEM OF
PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE HAVE FEWER SLUMS AND BETTER STREETS, AND WE HAVE
CITIZENS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND INVOLVED IN CITY GOVERNMENT. OUR
NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL WILL STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY OF ALL OF WESTERN
VIRGINIA. AND A CONSTANT EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE OUR LARGE
RANGE OF CITY SERVICES.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 33 OF THE ROANOKE CITY
CHARTER PERTAINING TO THE ANNUAL BUDGET, THE CITY MANAGER HAS
RECOMMENDED A BALANCED FISCAL YEAR 1990-91 GENERAL FUND BUDGET
TOTALLING $150,694,575.00. THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS RECOMMENDED TO
INCREASE 7.5 PERCENT, HOWEVER IT IS NOTED THAT $2,049,686.00 OF THE
TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR
1990-91 IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
WHICH WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL DURING FISCAL YEAR 1989-90 AFTER THE
ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 1989-90 GENERAL
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE RECOMMENDED TO
OR 6.1 PERCENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1990-91.
FUND BUDGET. ALL OTHER
INCREASE BY $8,520,455.00
TONIGHT IT IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK AND OUR TIME TO LISTEN. IN
ORDER TO HEAR AS MANY CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE, MAY I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST
THAT WE LIMIT OUR PRESENTATIONS TO NOT MORE THREE MINUTES. THE CITY
CLERK HAS ARRANGED FOR OUR CITIZENS TO REGISTER AND I WILL RECOGNIZE
THE PERSONS WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE
REGISTERED.
(2)
Mayor Taylor, Members of City Council, Mr. Herbert:
My name is Linda Greene and as President of the Virginia Heights PTA,
I appreciate the support Council has given our School System as it strives
to make our educational programs strong and exciting.
With matching monies from the PTA and other Partnerships, we have
stretched the City School Board/further than most people can imagine.
At Virginia Heights we have the only public school swimming program
in the state for our third, fourth, and special education students.
We have a computer in every classroom and a special computer program
that is unique in the nation to only three schools for the hearing impaired.
The school system has always given maintenance support for our
innovative programs such as WVHS - our student radio program.
Through Community involvement and established partnerships with civic
groups, the school is attempting to address the many diverse needs of our
students. Socio-economically, our school is nearly identical to the city
as a whole. We are proud of our diverse population and our attempts to
meet the many needs of our students.
- We need full day kindergarten;
- We need to establish alternative programs for those students who
are "at risk";
- We need to go beyond the minimum state requirements for guidance
counselors and remedial teachers;
- We need to improve the salaries of all employees in the Roanoke
City Schools.
Again, I appreciate your help in the past and your consideration to
fully fund this year's School Board budget.
NEED FOR SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE SERVICES
ROANOKE CITY BUDGET HEARING
April 23, 1990
Presented by: Sandra W. Ryals, MS, RN
School Health Advisory Committee Member
Your help is needed to find a way to sustain the collaborative
efforts involved in providing a comprehensive school health program
for our school-age children in Roanoke. Minimum funding must be
found to continue the school nurse supervisor position begun this
year through the cooperative agreement between Ro&noke City Schools,
Roanoke Health District and the City of Roanoke. Further support is
needed to at least continue five part-time school nurse positions
currently funded by Chapter I. Additional funds are required to
meet the recommended ratio of 1 nurse per school or at least 1 per
1,000 students to more effectively meet the health needs of
Roanoke's school-age children.
In order to understand the problems involved, let me share
information with you regarding the status of our school health
program, explain more about the needs, give some examples to help
illustrate the significance, describe the current agreement, and
hopefully enlist your support.
For many years core health services have been provided by school
nurses funded by Chapter I, a federally funded program for
educationally disadvantaged students who have unmet health needs
which impact upon academic achievement if medical and health
problems were not prevented. This year, five part-time Chapter I
school nurses provide supportive health services, to approximately
1,550 students in 16 Chapter I schools for 3.5 hours daily per
nurse during the school year.
The health department has assigned twelve public health nurses "on-
call" to all 28 schools as one service component of their multiple
job responsibilities in clinic, homes, and community. Both Chapter
I nurses and public health nurses serve as part of the student
support teams designed this year. With escalating demands of
mandated health programs and present staffing levels, the amount of
public health nursing time is estimated to be less than 5% per
nurse, an average of 2 hours per week, for school health services to
approximately 13,000'children.
Our school health program in Roanoke City has consisted more of
crisis intervention except for the annual health screenings done to
identify students with potential vision, hearing, dental, and
scoliosis defects that impact upon learning. Thanks to the PTA
Visual Aid Fund, glasses have been purchased for children who would
not be able to afford them otherwise.
It is with great concern that we report trends indicative of high
"no response" rates. In less than 10 years, the "no response" rate,
or follow-up of referrals, for vision screening has almost doubled
from 29% in 1980-81 to 57% in 1988-89. There were 790 vision
referrals last year, but 450 students did not receive further
medical evaluation follow-up. As a result of this year's health
screenings, there were 745 vision referrals, 863 dental referrals
and 119 scoliosis referrals which require follow-up.
With the rise in the number of disadvantaged students to 40% of the
school population, there also has been a dramatic increase in the
health needs of our children. The "new morbidity" problems of
school-age populations are here in Roanoke with alcohol abuse, drug
abuse, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and violent
behaviors. Indeed Roanoke has "crack babies" for whom health and
learning services are needed. -
Let me share with you some examples of contributions nurses have
made as valuable members to the school team - not as "bandaid
persons" - but truly health professionals who are knowledgeable
resources to parents, teachers, guidance counselors, school
administrators and other members of the community on health problems
and issues.
In the last month, one nurse has seen five students at school with
injuries that occurred at home or elsewhere. The nurse suspected
possible fractures and the parents were notified to seek medical
evaluation. Indeed, each child did have a fracture: one broken arm,
one broken hand, one broken leg and two broken fingers.
One nurse works with a diabetic student who requires close
monitoring for signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which is
caused by excess insulin. This condition occurs rapidly and
progresses to loss of consciousness if not quickly recognized and
treated.
Another nurse identified a child's behavioral changes, depression
and crying as possible reactions to a new medication the child was
receiving. The nurse communicated her concerns to the physician and
parents. As a result, the physician discontinued the medicine and
the child's behavior has returned to normal.
What about the child described as a "day dreamer"? Could he really
be experiencing a seizure disorder? Or the child who falls asleep
in class everyday? Home visits and interview with the parent
convinced .the nurse that a medical problem existed. The nurse
arranged referral to a physician; tests confirmed a sleep disorder
with apnea (breathing stops) that required correctable surgery.
School performance improved greatly. Other illustrations attest to
the fact that school administrators seek the nurses' assessment and
evaluation of suspected cases of child abuse, negl6ct, and sexual
abuse. Nurses have also identified students with eating disorders.
Nurses have the background, knowledge base and experience to make
professional nursing judgements in assessing students health needs
and making appropriate referrals for intervention.
In some school divisions, serious illnesses and injuries have
occurred to students in schools where no one adequately trained in
first aid or CPR was available. As a result of crises, these
divisions have recognized the need to have nu.rses available for the
health and safety of students throughout the school day. Let's not
wait until a serious crisis occurs in our schools to recognize the
value of having school nurses.
The exciting news to report is the cooperative agreement which
recently was established between Roanoke City Schools, Roanoke City
Health District, and the City of Roanoke to develop and implement a
comprehensive school health program in order to meet effectively the
health needs of our school-age children in Roanoke. I acknowledge
with grateful appreciation the support provided by school, health,
and city personnel to adopt and carry out the terms of this
agreement. As a result of the collaborative efforts, a public
health nurse supervisor has been employed this year by the health
department to focus on school health services, provide professional
nursing supervision, coordination of activities, and planning of the
comprehensive school health program. Much has been accomplished in
a relatively short time. Site visits to four other school
districts: Fairfax, Chesterfield, Norfolk and Williamsburg/James
City have been made by the School Health Advisory Subcommittee to
gather first-hand information for developing our model program in
Roanoke City. A Community Development Block Grant proposal has been
submitted to obtain needed screening equipment.
While it may be desirable for the health department to assume full
responsibility for school health services, it is not feasible in the
foreseeable future without funding from other sources. Non-mandated
services, including school health, have been cited for budget cuts
by the State Health Department and have been denied for funding in
the next biennium. Recent site visits to other school districts
have shown that school boards and local governments have recognized
that they must share in the expenses of providing health services to
students. Joint efforts are needed in providing financial support
to continue the school nurse program with total estimated costs for
the next year only $176,000.
Both city and school funds are needed to:
1)
Continue the School Health Nurse Supervisor position which
is. filled by a uniquely qualified individual with special
expertise in school health, public health, and professional
nursing supervision.
2)
3)
Continue the five part-time school nurse positions.
Add two full-time Public Health Nurses to phase in a
comprehensive school health program to meet recommended
guidelines of 1 nurse per school or 1 per 1,000 students.
3
Good health is essential to the academic performance and progress of
our children. Dollars invested in school health nurse services for
children will be an investment in our future. Collaborative funding
endeavors are essential to meet the health related learning needs of
our school-age children - our challenge for the nineties! Together
we must find a way!
~[hc~'re Jfj.,
~54.0~j/v ~h'e~s ~a? 9~ ~
I am a parent with ~wo children that attend Preston Park Elementary School. I am
also Co-President of the Preston Park PTA.
] have observed several needs for our school wich I feel is necessary to address to
you tonight.
i. Full-day Kindergarten is necessary for the preparation of basic learning skills
for our children entering school for the first time. Since we have a ~0% or
better ratio of lower income (free lunch students) in Preston Park, these
children come to school lacking many meaningful learning experiences.
In most cases~ either one or both parents work and time Jsntt available
or isn't taken to work with children before they get to school. Full-day
kindergartens will allow teachers to have more time in getting these children
up to the level they should be when they enter the first grade.
Surrounding school systems already have full-day kindergartens in their ~;
schools. The decrease in enrollment in Roanoke City Schools can be part]ally
attJbuted to the half-day versus full-day kindergarten concept by these other
school divisions.
2. Another crucial need Jn our school as well as other schools is the need for Remedial
Reading teachers. Reading skills are necessary for children growing up in todays
world. Illiteracy is a problem in Roanoke City as well as all parts of the country.
This problem can only be solved by supplying teachers skilled in the art of
teaching children how to read. These teachers are able to work With the children
on a one on one basis to insure they receive the reading skills that will enable them
to comprehend and follow directions.
~/ith the Remedial teacher resource~ these children have a chance to become
productive students in our school system. ]t is a known fact that if children
can't read, they are prime candidates for failure in school.
They turn out to be failures in society as well because they can not understand
instructions ot follow directions due to the primary fact that they can't read.
To help insure the success of our children in school~ we must do everything
possible to help them to read and to learn in the early school years.
I ask for your help in meeting these needs in our school.
I am here tonight ~or two reasons to tell you who
and why I'm here.
I am
My name is Joan McClung. I live in the Raleigh Court
section of Roanoke City. I am the mother of twin sons who
are seniors in Roanoke City Schools. Brian is a senior at
Patrick Henry High School and Jeff who is a senior at William
Fleming High School. Contrary to popular opinion my sons
are in diffferent schools by choice not by a brotherly
dislike of each other.
Jeff made ~e decision to transfer his Sophmore year
to Fleming. He did not transfer because he was unhappy
or having difficulty. He transfered to attend the Magnet
School. When Jeff approached me with ~his idea to transfer
I did my motherly duty of putting all the road blocks
up for him I could think of. Not because I didn't want him
to go to Fleming but simply because it was diffferent.
It was acr5oss town as compaired to the 2 blocks that we live
from P. H. , loss of his life long neighboorhood friends~
and his school athletic teams would change. D~spite all of
my roadblocks Jeff hurled each and everyon~and after talking
and meeting with the a~ministration of Fleming I deciQe~ to
let him give it a try with the condition if he was unhappy
he could transfer back to P.H. Never has that condition
eve~ been discussed again. Jeff has done extremely well
at Fleming, academically and Athletically. I feel this is due
to the excellent faculty, the accomadating administration
and the well planned, throughly res~rched and superior
conducting of the M~-~m.
By developing this farsighted program, Roanoke City
has given the hope of a better future to the students in
this program. By funding this program~a giant step forw~.rd
has been taken.
I am here to support full funding of the school budget. Not
only that but to issue a challange for the City government and
our school system to work together to achieve more than they
are doing now.
In my following presentation when I say we) I am referring
to the ta$ payers of Roanoke City. When I say we) I am referring
to the Roanoke City goverment and agencies of theat government
including the school admininstration al ~11 persons employed
by them. When I say wejI am referring to all person~ concerned
about our community and the progress of that community and
all persons who are not at this time taxpayers but who in the
future probably will be. Therefore when ~ use the phrase we
I think ~ have covered almost every living breathing body
in Roanoke. The point being We are all in this toqether.
In education we maybe doing a good job but it may not
be our best. The funding maybe sufficient but not enough.
I believe that Roanoke Citye Schools are providing a good
education for our students but is good our best? I believe
we are short changing a large portion of our students. ~
..................~ ~,,~ -~ ~ .... ,.-- !cysts kccp~ pzesoe~re
~~revidc fo~ tho~e ~h~d~nts buL'what about
the mass majority of the students who fall in th~ middle,
The sandwich students.
These ~kids have ability and many of them will go on to
complete college not becaues of their outstanding academic
achievements or the?superior intell~ but because of shere
determentation and necessity. They will struggle but many will
succeed. They will not earn honors in college but they will
p.2
earn a degree. They will return to their community and be good
middle class citizens. They may hold public offices and be
President of PTA's. They will do O.K.
The S~dwich sudents who do not go on to college
d~ not finish college will return to the community and become
service workers and be good middle class citizens,
This is good that our educational system c~n chrank out
the good middle class tax paying citizens but is it our best?
We are living in a world that is moving so fa~t compre-
hension is very difficult. I don't believe we are/~preparing
our sandwich students for these challanges. A high schol
diploma alon~ is not good enough. We must educate our
students not for just today but for tomorrow. Not our tomorrow
but for t_heir tomorrow.
To do this we must find n~w ways of teaching and new
technology to prepare them for their tomorrow. This mean ~nds.
Funding now may be sufficient ~ut not enoch. If we
want growth in our community which in turn means revenue
for the City ,.~e must provide a better education system which
will attract new development. A better edUcatioD system means
better prepared workers with skil~ and technology to help
develop companys ~in~turn grow and produce more revenue.
More reveDue produces more funding possiblilites which can
provide for a better education saytem. ~e ~heel is turning
now~but how long will it roll on our present funding system?
I as a tax payer do not want highter taxes but. As a p~rent
of sandwich students I feel compelled Ito come here to
express my concerns.
We will pay sooner or later for our education system.
I am a parent with Cwo children that attend Preston Park Elementary School. I am
also Co-President of the Preston Park PTA.
I have observed several needs for our school wich I feel is necessary to address to
you tonight.
1. Full-day Kindergarten is necessary for the preparation of basic learning skills
for our children entering school for the first time. Since we have a #0% or
better ratio of lower income (free lunch students) in Preston Park, these
children come to school lacking many meaningful learning experiences.
In most cases~ either one or both parents work and time isn't available
or isn't taken to work with children before they get to school. Full-day
kindergartens will allow teachers to have more time in getting these children
up to the level they should be when they enter the first grade.
Surrounding school systems already have full-day kindergartens in their:
schools. The decrease in enrollment in Roanoke City Schools can be partially
attibuted to the half~day versus full-day kindergarten concept by these other
school divisions.
2. Another crucial need in our school as well as other schools is the need for Remedial
Reading teachers. Reading skills are necessary for children growing up in todays
world. Illiteracy is a problem in Roanoke City as well as all parts of the country.
This problem can only be solved by supplying teachers skilled in the art of
teaching children how to read. These teachers are able to work ~vith the children
on a one on one basis to insure they receive the reading skills that will enable them
to comprehend and follow directions.
With the Remedial teacher resource~ these children have a chance to become
productive students in our school system. It is a known fact that if children
can't read, they are prime candidates for failure in school.
They turn out to be failures in society as well because they can not understand
instructions or follow directions due to the primary fact that they can't read.
To help insure the success of our children in school, we must do everything
possible to help them to read and to learn in the early school years.
I ask for your help in meeting these needs in our school.
TO: ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Parent's Advisory Committee, Governor's School,
DATE: April 23, 1990
RE: To request full funding for education budget
Jerry Bourdeaux, Chairperson
I have been associated with the Governor's School since it started in 1985, and I
am a member of the Roanoke Regional Council for Education of the Gifted.
Because of my involvement on these boards, I have been able to see what school systems
provide or do not provide in the way of programs for academically talented students.
Roanoke City is a leader in our area in providing a variety of unique programs for
gifted students. Programs such as Plato for the elementary school children, the
Scholar's Center for middle school students, and the Governor's School and city school
for high school students, and the Suramer Honor's program are examples of excellent
programs offered by the city.
Roanoke County and Salem are in the process of upgrading their programs in part as
a response to the competition they feel with Roanoke City to attract bright students.
I live in Roanoke County. It is no secret that parents in the county and other
school districts have been transferring their gifted children into the City schools
to take advantage of the programs I just mentioned. I transferred my own child this
year in order for her to be in the 9th grade program at the Governor's School.
In November, I attended a consolidation meetin~ in the county along with about
250 other county residents. One of the main reasons this group listed as a reason
for consolidation was so that the county could take full advantage of the city's
programs for gifted students.
In particular I would like to praise the efforts of the faculty and staff of the
Governor's School for setting a high standard of academic excellence.
This school is one of only 60 like it in the nation~ It is a model school in that
it uses innovative educational ideas such as an integrated curriculum and cooperative
learning techniques. It also provides an outreach program to disstminate the latest
information in instructional technology to other schools.
The Roanoke Office of Economic Development often brings to the school its clients
who are interested in relocating in the Roanoke Valley. Many national and international
groups also visit the school as a forward looking educational model.
The Governor's School does its job on a shoestring budget. It charges the least
amount of tuition of any other Governor's School in Virginia. It's facilities
are very cramped and yet more and more students come each year.
My purpose in talking to you tonight is to make you aware of the impact your programs
are having in our greater cormmunity and to urge you to fully support the education
budget so that Roanoke City can continue its role as a leader in education.
My name is Judy Burgess, Co-chaLrman of the Special Education Advisory
I~oard and Co-coordinator of the Parent Resource Center. We would like
to thank yon for your continuing support from both city and school
~dministrators for the needs of handicapped s~dents and their families.
We encourage the City to provide funding necessary for special children.
As our community changes the number of students and families w~th
special needs will grow even while overall school enrollment may decline.
The Special Education Advisory Committee and the Parent Resource Center
s~pport f~ll funding of the submitted school budgets.
p.3
At present we spend $4,527 per~? student in Roanoke Cit~
we spend $32,369 per person for Youth Detention in
the Western region of the state
we spend $21,498 per ~nm~te in the State Prison.
We can pay now or we can pay late~
We must develop programs to keep our student in school,
off drugs, out of trouble and show them that by getting
not a good education but by getting the best education
possible that their tomorrow will be there for them, and to
do this we must find the funds not just enough but ~ore than
adaquate to cover the expense of our future.
Po§t offices make' the best of
Associated Press
tort on Monday rustled their re-
the anMUI! UIX dcedline dash tO the
post office.
From Olympia, Wash., where a
piano player was set up at the main
po~t office to serenade the frantic, to
Lincoln, Neb. where state tax agents
were ~t up to be dunked, to inng
lines in Philadelphia, taxpayers
grappled with Tax I~ty 1990 --
April 16, a day later than asoal be-
cause the ! 5th fell on a Sunday.
The Interred Revenue Service
did llOt estimate how many couples
minute. But the agency predicted
that about 34 mUlion tetra'ns ~
more than 30 percent of the 111
million expected this year ~ would
be flied after April 6.
The IRS Form 4868 was one of
the mo~t-sought pieces of paper in
the nation Monday as an estimated
6 million Americans abandoned
hopes of meeting the mkini~t d~-
line. FiUng a Form 4868, along mm
a check for estimated taxes owed,
extends the return deadline to Aug.
In Lincoln. Neb., taxpayers who
felt like they took a hath could turn
the ?,_bles and dunk a~ents with the
state s Department of Revenue.
At $1 a try, agents were ~hed-
uled to be tar'Sets at a dunk tank
Monday .i._ht, with proceeds Soing
to the Lincoln Jaycees' foster aid
pro~rsm.
state were $o~xl sperts about tt, sale
Dou~ A~ew, general mannger of
~, which sponsored the event
with the U.S. Postal Service.
Mi~'s top tax man. state
Treasurer Robert Bowman,, was
amo~ thc pW,~astinatort Monday.
hunt~ and taxes: that's bow I spent
my weekend," Bowman said. "It
proves beyond a ~zadow of a doubt
that we are a nation of procrastina-
tors.
"I always wait until the lnst
minute to do my own taxes, because
I spend the fn~t three months of the
year worrying about everyone
ehe's," Bowman said. "But I alway~
gel a refund."
In Olympia, Wash., a piano
plaiter was to be stationed at t~.e
mare post office Monday _nib_t, md.
Postmaster Michael Loc. Coffee ano
cookies also were being offered.
It's tbe se~o~,d, .ye~'_ _t~ hav~
had the festivities, we had so much
fun last ycer tha~ we deci.d.ed to do it
a~kt this year," Loe sam.
In philedelphb, taxpayers lined
up ou~_~d~ an iRS office for l~t~
minute help ami the pmcesalng ¢e~
ter braced for the an-ival ofmtllio~
of returns from the Eastern Sea~
board.
"Today is crazy," said Jim
Wondoin..v~d, spokesman for tho
phila~elphln Office. "We had peopk
lined Up before we opened tbe door,
They were here for last-minute ques-
tions and actual preparation. The
nlajority arg coming in to have their
Accent ruled grounds OF ROANOKE
to reject job applicant
RECOMMENDED 1990-91 BUDG ET
On Monday, April .2.3, 1990, at 7:3Op.m.., Roanoke City Cou~ will
meeting in the Exhibit Hall of the Roanoge Civic Center, 710 Wllliamson Moan
on,the 19 )411 City
Roanoke, Virginia, for the pu .rl~o. s~. of holding a. ~,~_'._ _h~t___,r~. __., ....~ ~ views
From the Los Angeles Times dg . reesonaOle ame as snmt ee
.no,,e Post Court upholds ban .u et All p~sons shall be allorclee an opportunm]
on school dances
Associated press
Roanoke T~ & W~s. Tuesday, April 17, 1990
Lucidly,,_3' .a,~ Fly,into Day ian'~
fas cfr. s h.y .
D.C.-based Tn,x,F.o~on -- on.,
w h.u
Tbe Taz Foundation ~d ~
av~ ~n ~-~-- t~
~ p~tmato~ m
E~d ~d N~ Yo~ ~
concemin all aspects of the budget within such .
hed by lit Couna . Persons dasi. ng to s...peak o.n alf'
name placed on the agena, a in?.c~?_ roa.n, ca w..~n regul_.,a,r~_ _p?~___~
Council. written commems or ,merested ~azens w,t o~ rut,~,vuu uy ,,,~ ,~,,y ........
any time prior to the headng.
Complete copi,e_s of the recommended,budget will be available for public inspection at
the City Clerk s Office, City Manager s Office and the main public library.
The recommended budget is summarized as follows:
REVENUE ESTIMATES:
General Property Taxes
Other Local Taxes
Permits, Fees & Licenses
Fines and Forfeitures
Revenue from Use/Money & Property
Grants-in-Aid~Commonwealth
Grants-in-Aid~Federal Government
Education
Charges for Current Services
Miscellaneous Revenue
TOTAL GENERAL FUND
$48,251,500
37,505,000
453,000
593,000
1,636,600
25,222,442
28,000
32,714,467
4,161,466
129,100
$150,694,575
Civic Center Fund
Internal Service Fund
Sewage Treatment Fund
Water Fund
$1,629,220
$7,200,064
$6,716,000
$4,226,000
$1,218,132
62,999,941
WASHINGTON -- A job apphcant who speaks
English with a thick foreign accent may be denied em-
ployment without violating federal anti.discrimination
laws, according to a ruling that the Supreme Court let
stand Monday.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids job discrimi-
nation based on an individual's "national origin," as
well as on race, sex or religion. But the U.S. 9th Circuit
Court of Appeals ruled that the act is not violated if an
employer refuses to hire someone whose accent "inter-
feres materially" with his ability to perform a job.
Thc court did not try to specify how strong an
accent most be before an employer is justified in refus-
ing to hire a job applicant. The court stressed, however,
that such a refusal is allowed only if an essential part of
thc job involves speaking to the public.
"There is nothing improper about an en}.plo),er
making an honest assessment of the oral commumcat~on
skills of a candidate for a job wben such skills are
reasonably related to job performance," wrote ~udge
Stephen S. Troll for thc federal appeals court, based in
San Francisco.
Lawyers for Manuel Fragante, a 66-year Filipino-
American, condemned the Supreme Court for refusing
to hear an appeal of the ruling.
"I think this sets a dangerous precedent," said
William D. Hoshijo, a Honolulu attorney. "This leaves
thc standard very unclear. It is up to the subjective
judgment of the employer."
The case arose when Fragantc, a retired Philippine
military officer with a college degree and a law school
education, sought a clerical job in the Department of
Motor Vehicles in Honolulu.
The job Fral/ante was seeking required answering
questions and fielding complaints over the counter and
on the telephone.
In another case Monday, a l?-year-old male facing
PURDY, Mo. -- The Supreme Court on
Monday upheld a ban on school dances in this
Bible Belt tow~,,l prompting an opponent to la,~
merit a victory for liars, cheats and hypocrites.
The high court without comment rejected
arguments that the no-dance rule was religiously
motivated and violated the constitutionally re-
quired separation of church and state.
"I'm disappointed by the ruling but l'm not
surprised," said attorney William Fleischaker,
who represented 21 Purdy High School studems
and their parents who fried a lawsuit in 1986
seeking to overturn the ban in this Ozarks town.
The ban on dancing drew national attention
for its similarity to the movie "Footloose."
Joan Fox, a parent and plaintiff along with
her son and husband, said the Supreme Court's
refusal to hear the case was "an extreme victory
for liars, cheats and hypocrites." I think the judi-
cial system in this country has gone to pot."
RECOMMENDED EXPENDITURES:
Community Development
Pdt t~tinn
firebomb exploded in a Gadsden, ?da., housing project.
O.M. was arrested by Washington, D.C., authorities
in 1988, and has been fighting extradition ever since.
His lawyers argued unsuccessfully in Washington courts
that his extradition would violate the district govern-
ment's ban on capital punishment. Moreover, they con-
tended that O.M., who is black, could not get a fair trial
in Etowah County, ?da.
Al~o nn Monday. the court, taking up the case of
The y~ng man, identified only by the initials O.M.,
is charged with arson and murder in the 1988 death of
Tamal Jackson, a l-year-old who was killed when a
the employe~s t~av~ [he right to~e for damages in state
court or must file their claims under a much more
restrictive federal law.
Panel urges caution
in joint Mars plans
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Joint mis-
sions to Mars by the United States
and the Soviet Union are too risky
now, a panel said Monday, recom-
mending instead that the two na-
tions follow "a graceful path" of co-
ordinated but independent
exploration.
"The United States and
U.S.S.R. have no prior experience
with the degree of cooperation nec-
essary to carry out a technical pro?
ect of this complexity or magm-
tude," said a committee of the
National Research Council, which
conducts studies for the govern-
ment's National Academy of
Sciences.
The committee said it was con-
cerned "about relying on the consis-
tency of the relationship over a peri-
od of a decade or more into the
future."
The panel's report appeared to
chill the idea frequently expressed
by many experts that Mars would be
explored jointly by the Soviets and
Americans, doing together what
would be too expensive for either
nation to do alone.
The United States and the Sovi-
ets have cooperated in space in the
past, most notably in 1975 when
three Apollo astronauts joined their
spacecraft with a Soviet Soyuz and
exchanged bear hugs in orbit with
two cosmonauts.
The committee was commis-
sioned by NASA to look into under-
taking missions with international
partners to use robots to gather
rocks and soil from Mars and bring
them to Earth for analysis.
The Soviets have said they in-
tend to explore Mars with robotic
rovers, space probes orbiting over-
head and by returned samples.
Detailed Mars investigations,
before any manned landing, would
include robotic missions at four to
six selected sites over a number of
years. The committee said its rec-
ommended approach "would allow
a graceful path to increasingly close
levels of cooperation."
The committee said it reached
conclusions after considering three
levels of U.S. participation with the
Soviets in a Mars venture:
· Each country conducting
programs independently.
· Split responsibilities and
joint technical operations.
· A highly coordinated explo-
ration program.
--NOW--
COLOR
COPIES
AT
CURRY COPY
345-2865
Downtown Roanoke
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 58.1-3007, Code
of Virginia (1950), as amended, that the City Manager proposes
to recommend to Cib/Council that the current cigarette tax of
$.0025 per cigarette ~)e increased to $.005 per cigarette begin-
ning July 1, 1990.
Not ce s hereby given pursuant to Section 58.1-3007, Code
of Virginia (1950), as amended, that the City Manager is cons d-
ering recommending to City Council that the current motor
vehce license tax rates of $15 per vehicle weighing 4,000
pounds or less and $20 per vehicle weighing in excess of 4,000
pounds be increased to $20 per vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds
or less and $20 per vehicle weighing in excessing of 4,000
pounds beginning July 1, 1990.
A pub c hear ng w be held before the Council of the City of
Roanoke on Monday, April 23, 1990, at 7:30 p.m., in the Exhibit
Hall of the Roanoke Civic Center, 710 Williamson Road, N.E.,
Roanoke, Virginia, at which time citizens of the locality shall be
given an opportunity to appear before and be heard by City
(~ouncil on the subjects of the proposed increased cigarette tax
rate and motor vehicle license tax rate.
Given under my hand this 16th day of April, 1990.
Mary F. Parker
City Clerk
Health and Welfare
Judicial Administration
Non-Departmental
Parks, Recreation & Cultural
Public Safety
Public Works
TOTAL GENERAL FUND
1 ~,/;.'IZ,U I O
3,213,420
12,095,797
4,060,568
26,970,215
18,091,034
:$150,694,575
Civic Center Fund
Internal Service Fund
Sewage Treatment Fund
Water Fund
$1,982,524
$7,082,097
$6,751,258
$4,841,128
Given under my hand this 16th day of April, 1990.
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON REAL ESTATE TAX RATE
CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
A public hearing will be held before the Council of the City of Roanoke on Monday, April 23, 1990, at 7:30 p.m., in tho
Exhibit Hall of the Roanoke Civic Center, 710 Williamson Road, N.E. Roanoke, Virginia, at which time, citizens of the locality
shall be given an opportunity to appear before and be heard by Counc on the subject of the real estate tax rate for Fiscal
Year 1990-91. City Counc w I not establish the real estate tax rate for Fiscal Year 1990-91 until after fully discussing the
recommended F scal Year 1990-91 budget and after holding th s pub c hearng.
As a direct result of the annual assessment of real property, estimated revenues from the real estate tax w ncrease in
F scal Year 1990-91 only due to increased properb/ va ues, not due to any increase in the real estate tax rate. The
recommended $1.25 tax rate and reassessed property values were used to compute the estimated Fiscal Year 1990-91 real
estate tax levy.
A historical summary of recent real estate tax rates per $100 follows:
Fiscal Year 1976-77 ....................... $1.64 Fiscal Year 1984-85 ....................... $1.33
Fiscal Year 1977-78 ....................... 1.60
Fiscal Year 1978-79 ........................ 1.50
Fiscal Year 1979-80 ........................ 1.46
Fiscal Year 1980-81 ........................ 1.38
Fiscal Year 1981-82 ........................ 1.38
Fiscal Year 1982-83 ........................ 1.35
Fiscal Year 1985-86 ........................ 1.30
Fiscal Year 1986-87 ........................ 1.29
Fiscal Year 1987-88 ........................ 1.25
Fiscal Year 1988-89 ........................ 1.25
Fiscal Year 1989-90 ........................ 1.25
Fiscal Year 1990-91 ........................ 1.25
Fiscal Year 1983-84 ........................ 1.35 (Recommended)
Actua changes n individual real estate tax abi ities that would be effective July 1, 1990 will be based upon (1) the
actual change in the assessed value of property and (2) the actual real estate tax rate which will be established by the City
Council before July 1, 1990.
The following information is provided pursuant to Section 58.1-3321 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, and
. must be provided in this form, content, language, location of publication and size of advertisement.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE
The C ty of Roanoke proposes to increase property tax levies.
1. Assessment Increase The assessed va ue of real property, excludin_~ additional assessments due to
new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year s tota assessed value of rea
property by 6.0 percent.
2. Lower Rate Necessary to Offset ncreased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same
amount of real estate tax as est year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value otreal estate
with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $1.18 per $100 of assessed vaue. This rate will be
known as the "lowered tax rate".
3. Effective Rate Increase: The City of Roanoke proposes to adopt a tax rate of $1.25 per $100 of
assessed va ue. The d fference between the owered tax rate and the proposed tax rate would be $.07
per $100, or 6.0 percent. This d~fference w' be known as the "effective tax rate increase .
Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above
percentage.
Given under my hand this 16th day of April, 1990.
Mary F. Parker
City Clerk