FY2013 budget approved

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors recently approved its $163.3 million, FY 2012-13 budget. The budget increased the real estate tax rate from 75 cents to 87 cents per $100 assessed value. Video rebroadcasts of the budget meetings are available on our YouTube channel.

The budget also includes a $3 million increase over this fiscal year’s county funding to public schools. The proposed school operating budget is basically flat at $91.97 million, due to reduced State revenue, the end of federal stimulus funding, and the mandatory increase in State retirement contribution rates. 

Real estate taxes due June 5

The first installment of real estate taxes (2012-A) are due to the Treasurer’s office on June 5. Property is assessed as of Jan. 1 each year. The current real estate tax rate is 87 cents per $100 assessed value.

If you do not receive a bill approximately two weeks prior to the due date, contact the Treasurer's office before the due date at (540) 382-5723. For questions concerning assessments, call the Commission of Revenue at (540) 382-5717.  

Get ready for some cool summer fun!

Be sure to pick up a copy of Parks and Recreation’s summer brochure on May 8!

Take a look through the color-coded pages and check out all the cool – and hot! – programs. Parks and Rec is offering summer camps for the little ones, fitness fun to get in shape, outdoor adventures and much more!

The Frog Pond swimming pool will be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A variety of programs and events are offered at the pool throughout the summer, including a Rock the Pond concert with The Kind on July 13! Registration for summer programs will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tues., May 15. 
 

For more information, visit Parks and Rec online!

The Board of Supervisors honors Matt Hagan as the 2011 World Champion in the Full Throttle Drag Racing Funny Car at the National Hot Rod Association Competition.  

Residents asked to help
identify areas in need of broadband

Montgomery County is joining with other Virginia counties to map broadband availability by participating in a local Internet speed testing campaign. Residents with Internet access are asked to take the Accelerate Virginia speed test to help identify areas in the county in need of better access to high-speed Internet services.

The Accelerate Virginia Internet speed test is a short and simple online survey and speed test that measures the overall quality and performance of your Internet connection. Upon completion of the speed test users will receive performance details regarding their Internet connection, as well as a comparison summary based on other speed test results in your community.

To participate in the campaign, all residents with Internet access are asked to take this two-minute speed test from their home computers. Accelerate Virginia also encourages business owners to take the speed test from their business locations.

For more information about Accelerate Virginia, contact Jean Plymale, vplymale@vt.edu or (540) 231-2270.

Police Memorial ceremony

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will host the 8th Annual Police Memorial Ceremony on May 21 at 5 p.m. in the Montgomery County Government Center, 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg.

The event will be honoring those officers who lost their lives and were injured during 2011 and remembering those from Montgomery County who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice: Officer Terry Griffith, Officer Scott Hylton, Security Guard Derrick McFarland, Corporal Eric Sutphin and Officer Deriek Crouse.

For more information, call the Sheriff’s Office at (540) 382-6906.

E-1 precinct polling place change

The E-1 Voting Precinct Polling Place at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 2308 Merrimac Road, Montgomery County, will temporarily change to Kipps Elementary School, 2801 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg. The temporary relocation will only be for the June 12, 2012, primary election.

Annual report honored 

Public Information has won a 2012 Hermes Creative Gold Award for the submission of Montgomery County’s Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report.

Spay/neuter discount fees offered 

Mountain View Humane, The Waldron-Ricci Spay Neuter Clinic, has received a $5,000 grant from the Animal Farm Foundation, Inc. to help 100 Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix owners spay and neuter their pets for $23. The clinic also offers sterilization services for cats.

To schedule your dog or cat for spaying or neutering, call (540) 382-0222. Reduced fee surgeries are by appointment only and space is limited.

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