Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
Christiansburg Finance Director Valerie Tweedie presented the proposed budget of the 2023-24 fiscal year to the town council in a regular meeting on March 28, 2023.
Due to the economic impact of increasingly high inflation rates, said Tweedie, the meal tax is expected to have a one percent increase in revenue, lodging tax is trending downward 10% as compared to last year, sales taxes are trending downward, and personal property taxes are expected to remain relatively flat for next year. Revenue from real estate tax will see an increase, from both increased construction and assessed property values.
Tweedie explained that with the county’s increased property assessment value of 23.55%, the town is proposing a reduction in real estate taxes from 16% to 14% to offset those costs to residents.
“it will result in some increased revenue to help the town, who is also feeling all the effects in higher inflation,” Tweedie said.
Additional revenue may also be garnered in the proposed budget with an increased water rate. Some of these changes would include an increase to over one 1,000 gallons, from $11 to $12, which would result in an increase of $350,000 in revenue for the town. Additionally, an increase for use over 50,000 gallons would see an increase from $8.25 per thousand to $9 per thousand gallons.
For staffing and compensation, the town is proposing a 5% cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) and a 2% merit increase, which is comparable to the town of Blacksburg, which is proposing the same 5% COLA increase and a 2% step adjustment for employees.
Public hearings will be held on the water rate increases and tax increases on May 9th, 2023. On May 23rd, 2023, the council will hear the public response on the budget. A final budget approval must be made by June 30th, 2023; therefore, adjustments to the proposal must be made prior to this date.
“After the public hearing, you cannot vote on the budget for seven days,” Tweedie shared with council, with the goal for a budget to be finalized early in June.
Christiansburg Town Council also heard public response to the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) request by Rockstep Christiansburg LLC, property owner, to allow a carnival from April 29 through May 17, 2023 on the property at the location of 782 New River Road, NW, in Christiansburg. This location is the mall area and the carnival has been permitted at this location in the past.
Justin Cole, Cole Shows Amusement Company from Covington, Va, addressed the council and was available for questions.
“It [the carnival] should be similar size as previous years and similar direction,” Cole shared with the council.
Christiansburg Town Council had voted 7 to 0 recommending approval of the conditional use permit request on March 6, 2023, with some conditions that must be met. Specific conditions are listed on the council’s agenda sheet on the www.christiansburg.org website.
The council also heard several resolutions to recognize the following national dates:
March 29, 2023 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day,
April 3 – 9, 2023 as National Public Health Week,
April 9 – 15, 2023 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators,
The month of April 2023 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month,
A purchase order for a Caterpillar skid steer loader and accessories for the Huckleberry Park, with a total cost $105,530, was then discussed by the town council members. The accessories accompanying the skid steer loader are a brush cutter and a vibratory compactor and would be purchased from Carter Machinery in Salem, Virginia. As the agenda states, this equipment is necessary to maintain the new Huckleberry Park.
Additional task orders were included in the agenda during the meeting as well.
