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Road funds may be restored |
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Written by Staff
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Saturday, 12 May 2007 |
Virginia Department of Transportation district engineer Bob Beasley told Floyd County Supervisors this week he had some good news "for a change."
Increases in the state's transportation budget means the county might get some badly needed funds for its long-overdue secondary road improvement program.
"The good news is that we have some more money," Beasley said. "I'm not sure just how much yet because we don't have the final numbers but it looks like we may be able to restore some projects that were delayed."
Beasley said the additional highway money could put the country's secondary road improvement program back at the seven-year plan approved in 2005. Cuts in highway funding since then have pushed projects back as much as 12 years into the future.
"What you're telling us is that if we get this money then projects we pushed back to 2018 are now back on schedule for 2012," Courthouse Supervisor Jerry Boothe told Beasley.
"That's about the size of it," Beasley said.
The highway engineer's report came during a meeting when the Supervisors agreed to look at ways of reducing costs by considering either eliminating the annual vehicle county sticker or going to a permanent sticker that does not have to be replaced each year.
Supervisors scheduled a working group session with County Treasurer Dorinda Thomas to consider alternatives to the current system. Some Virginia counties and municipalities, including Christiansburg, have eliminated county stickers altogether while others have opted for a five-year sticker or permanent one.
But eliminating the stickers does not mean county vehicle owners would be off the hook for the annual decal fee. That would still have to be paid - with or without a county decal.
County attorney Jim Cornwell told the board that state law gives them several options, including changing the annual period for stickers from the current April 15-April 14 period to a calendar year and including the sticker fee on personal property tax bills that are due on Dec. 5.
Cornwell also told Supervisors that many other jurisdictions required county stickers on any vehicle owned and kept on properties, even those not licensed or running. At present, Floyd County only requires stickers on vehicles with state tags and driven on public roads.
"We're not going there," Boothe said. "We might as well throw in a leash law if we want to start that debate."
"Agreed," said board chairman David Ingram. "This discussion is closed."
In other action Tuesday, the board:
--Agreed to look at the raising the income and property value limits for the $200 real estate tax exemption for elderly and totally-disabled residents. The board instructed county administrator Dan Campbell to put together a report showing the economic impact on the county's finances.
--Reappointed John McEnhill to the New River community Action Executive Board for a two-year term.
--Reappointed Doug Thompson to a one year term on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program Advisory Board. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 May 2007 )
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