Minutes 02/28/1956 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 1956 The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, V5rginia, with Mayor R. S . Eodrett presiding, was held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, on Tuesday, Feb~Qary 28, 1956, at 7:30 P.M., all members being present, as follows: Mayor and Councilman R. S. Hodrntt; Vice-Mayor and Councilman C. P. Craig; and Councilmen B. H. Hill, w. T. Turmr, and J. R. Walker. A1'ter the invocation by Councilman Hill, Council appr oved as read the minutes of the regular Council Ireeting held February 14, 1956. The 1'irst item of business was we consideration of ways and means to finance m.:~ ~~ !St g the debt service on the proposed $1,450,000 School bonds, the issuance 01' vmich (of authority therefor) will be subject to the forthcoming March 15th election. Council ,vas unanimous in its opinion tha t such debt service should be financed from or through gemral prolE rty tax revenue; however, as has been pointed out in previoU3 Council meetings, the present Charter tax rate limit would have to be increased 1'rom $2.25 to at least $2.38 per ond hundred dol~,rs of assessed valuation to provide sufficient revenue far just the anticipated debt service. Council pointed out, further, that an amendment to the City's Charter tax rate limit was requested of the City's delegates in the 1956 Virginia General Assembly for the very purpose outlined above-th:iB request having been in the form of a resolution adopted by COllI'Ci 1 January 2Lf, 1956-and that, subsequently, the dele.gates have asked COlL.'1C il to reaffirm unanimously its request before such legislation :is processed further. After hearing 1'rom a number of vi~;itors present on this subje Ct--some of whom opposed a tax rate increase, some of whom insisted tha t such a matter be put to a vote of the citizens (AttornEW Robert H. May taking this position by letter addressed to Council), anc others not only supporting Council's action but also expressing