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Alleghany County

Proposed Alleghany County budget doesn't raise taxes

Alleghany County supervisors are proposing a $73.6 million budget that doesn't raise taxes, but which will increase fees for water and sewer service.

The county avoided budget cuts and was able to maintain funding to schools, county departments, and non-governmental agencies. Increased local tax revenues and a fund balance of about $18 million made it possible. "It helps to know you've got that kind of cushion," Susan Myers, the county's financial systems analyst, said of the $18 million fund balance that took about 30 years to build.

"Still, if we hadn't projected an increase in taxes, mostly due to increased assessments, it would have been a much harder budget year and some much harder decisions would have had to be made."

Real estate taxes will remain at 66 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Read more in The Virginian Review....

Posted on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 4:11am

Chesapeake Bay Reports Call For More Livestock, Runoff Regulations

Last week federal officials released parts of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, according to NewsDay.com.

The report focuses on expanding regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff. Although details of the expanded regulations have not been decided, the report did mention that federal leadership and "muscle" would be used when necessary to enforce the new regulations.

This report, along with others wll be used to develop a bay restoration strategy scheduled for release on Novemeber 9th.

Because many of the Virginia localities in the Chesapeake Watershed are heavily farmed areas, many Virginia property owners could be affected. Property owners will need to ensure that their rights are protected in the process of restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

"Federal officials on Thursday began revealing the building blocks of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, using federal leadership to encourage states to cut pollution and federal muscle, when necessary, to ensure it happens.

Among recommendations in draft reports from federal agencies: expanded regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff, and requirements that increases in pollution be offset by reductions from other sources.

The details, such as how many more animal feeding operations would be regulated, have not been decided, but 'the message here is that there will be, there is a commitment at EPA to increased enforcement and increased oversight of state programs,' EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Thursday.

The reports will be used to develop a bay restoration strategy, scheduled for release Nov. 9, that was mandated by an executive order issued earlier this year by President Obama.

The EPA said it was working with Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia to establish limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. States would have to develop detailed plans on how to reduce levels of those pollutants from sources such as farms, highways and lawns. The EPA said it would step in if states don't take sufficient action.

While large operations such as industrial chicken farms would be regulated, the EPA said it would also expand regulation of municipal stormwater programs to include high-growth areas.

Jackson said the goal was to use federal leadership, and 'federal muscle when necessary.'

Agriculture is responsible for about half the pollution entering the bay, but Jackson noted there is more turf grass in the bay watershed than corn acreage and the region is much different from when bay restoration efforts began decades ago."

Read full story.

Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 10:50am

Public Comment Part of Downtown Analyses In Alleghany

The Virginia Review recently recapped a public meeting inwhich consultants hired to conduct economic marketing analyses of downtown areas in Alleghany gathered input from residents.

The purpose of the market analysis is to identify businesses that can come into the area's downtowns. The Economic Development Corp. also plans to conduct a tourism study of the region in efforts to increase spending from people who travel through the area. Both studies are being funded through grants from The Alleghany Foundation.

Area residents attended the meeting and expressed their desires to see more downtown businesses with longer operating hours, and cited the need for various types of housing such as for elderly residents.

This is a very exciting project for Clifton Forge and Covington as both downtown areas are looking for ways to spruce up and become more appealing to outsiders. Area homeowners should take the opportunity to be involved in the planning and give feedback on issues that may affect the value of their property.

"The first step of strategizing ways to revitalize the downtown areas in Covington and Clifton Forge took place Monday night in Low Moor.

RKG Associates Inc., an Alexandria firm hired to conduct economic marketing analyses of the downtown areas, held a public meeting to garner input from local residents. Approximately 45 people attended the meeting at the county governmental complex in Low Moor.

David Kleppinger, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corp., said the studies of the downtown areas are part of the overall strategy to bring economic growth to the Highlands."

Read full story.

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 11:16am

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Posted on Monday, June 15, 2009 - 12:00am