Projected increases in water, sewer, and meter fees
Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG – Blacksburg Town Council has set the public hearing date for the FY2024-25 Proposed Budget, along with two other public hearings, for April 9, 2024.
Town council is scheduled to vote April 23 on the budget. The budget year begins July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025.
Blacksburg Town Manager Marc Verniel introduced the proposed budget during the March 12 town council meeting.
“We introduce it in the beginning of March and council holds work sessions throughout March and April, holds a public hearing in April, and then we’ll vote at the end of April,” Verniel said. “And really, if I was to sum things up on the budget this year, you know, we’ve come out of the pandemic recession that we faced here in Blacksburg and our revenues are recovering but we are also facing inflation like people are in their personal lives; things are costing more, the same story for the town.”
Verniel said the proposed budget would be just over $105 million dollars for next year, with approximately half going to the General Fund, funded primarily with tax revenues. Approximately $22.5 million will go to Utility Funds, $0.5 million dollars to General Capital Funds, $3.3 million to unspecified Other Funds, and $25.2 million to Transit Funds, which operates the Blacksburg Transit System, which is primarily funded by state and federal grants and local money from student and contract fees, Verniel said.
“It is about a 4% increase overall,” Verniel said. “We are giving staff pay increases this year, we are also adding some new positions, so that is adding to that percentage as well.”
Property tax rates are proposed to remain at $0.26 per $100 of assessed value, following an increase last year.
“We typically stick with that tax rate for the next four years,” Verniel said.
However, sewer, water, and the average utility bill will all see increases this year while solid waste and recycling, and stormwater fees will remain the same.
A public hearing is also set for April 9 to discuss Ordinance 2049, an “Ordinance Amending Blacksburg Town Code Sections 18-201, 18-400, 24-301, 24-306, 24-314, and 24-602 to Increase Fees for Water and Sewer Services and Meter Fees,” according to the Town’s agenda.
Virginia Tech student William Kirschbaum spoke during the citizen’s comment session of the meeting and believes that increasing rising costs that are laid out in Ordinance 2049, Water and Sewer Fees and Meter Fees, should be decided upon with the consideration that some community members will struggle to pay.
Ordinance 2047: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Authorizing the Issuance of its General Obligation Capital Improvement and Refunding Bonds, Series 2024, will also invite a public hearing on April 9, 2024.
Kirschbaum also spoke concerning the use of bonds to promote the capital budget.
Kirschbaum said, “This is a vital tool used by this council to ensure the timely access to us as citizens that we need for our services and I’m tremendously grateful for this body of movement; however, I do believe there are some important considerations that must be addressed.”
Kirschbaum serves as a member of the New River Valley Literacy program and a volunteer and believes that the capital gains budget must be distributed in a way that “promotes educational opportunity in this community.”
In other public concerns during the citizens’ address, James McKinley, former Advocacy Chair for the Students for Sensible Drug Policy Club, spoke to council on ways that the town “can reduce the impact the opioid crisis has had on Blacksburg.”
McKinley cited the Virginia Department of Health and said, “In 2022, 79% of drug overdose stats involved fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and tramadol. There are 2,490 drug overdose stats among Virginians. We conducted Naloxone trainings, also known as Narcan, with Hokie Wellness and Mike Wade from New River Valley Community Services to help prevent overdoes. As a Clinical Research Assistant with Carilion Clinics Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in Roanoke, I read stories of addiction and overdose in Roanoke and Southwest Virginia every day.”
McKinley’s call to action for the town is to reduce the impact of overdosing to those who visit the area and live within the region by passing ordinances to install locksmith boxes in public buildings, partner with local organizations, install safe disposable sharp boxes, post flyers with overdosing statistics, and directions on how to administer Naloxone.
In council announcements, it is National Women’s History Month, and many events are scheduled in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech University, Council member Susan Anderson said.
“You can go to the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech website and see the full calendar listing, again, lots of wonderful programs and please do check out the website and attend some events,” Anderson said.
The website for Women’s Month events is womenscenter.vt.edu.
