Watch the brains at work (Part 3)

News from The Roanoke Times-Roanoke city budget includes tax relief:

Bullets from the new budget:

"n An average pay increase of 4 percent for city employees totaling $3.1 million in new money. The council, however, chose not to raise its pay. Its annual salary amounts will remain unchanged at $14,816 per year for council members and $19,050 annually for the mayor. (A good thing overall, council was wise not to reward itself for the elections and all.)

n A $777,000 initiative to create more than two dozen new positions, including 10 police officer jobs. (10 more cops can't hurt, but what are the other positions?)

n A 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for city retirees.
(Understandable.)

n A raise in the income threshold for the elderly and disabled to qualify for real estate tax exemptions from $30,000 to $34,000 in annual income and from $100,000 to $125,000 in net worth. (Is that not the nicest thing you've heard of? Of course, this is geared ever so slightly towards the retirees - except they make tons more than that. Expect these numbers to rise as Roanoke pushes for more retirees to live here.)

n An amendment to the city code to link the city's mileage reimbursement rate to the Internal Revenue Service's. That rate stands at 44.5 cents per mile. (Well, with today's rising gas prices... But does that include the idea of eliminating unnecessary travel as well?)

n A reduced cut to the tourism-related Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city administration had recommended a $60,000 cut, but later settled on a $30,000 reduction approved by the council Thursday." (Still not the smartest idea, by a long shot. The city has problems on its own selling itself to the world, shouldn't they be glad to pay for someone to do it right?)

Whats not included in these bullet points is the City Real Estate Rate dropping by 2 cents, an estimated $30 dollars per year (on a home assesed at $150,000). Or the recovery of those 2 cents, plus a bunch extra in the raising of the cigarette tax which will indeed double on July 1st.

Thanks to the Roanoke City Council, for giving us all guidelines as to what to expect in terms of revenue, now let's see where the expected revenue will be spent.

Oh - and what happens if a good number of people give up smoking? What tax to raise then?