BY MEGAN ANDERSON HOMETOWN NEWS The Blacksburg Town Council has some difficult decisions to make as they prepare to pass the town’s fiscal budget for 2009. The proposed budget includes a property tax increase, additional charges for water and sewer services, and new fees for trash collection. Town officials are considering raising property taxes to the maximum the state allows under the town’s current tax structure – an increase of 11.9 mills. In addition to higher taxes, administrators are also proposing charging $2.10 more a month for water and $2.75 a month for sewer. These figures are based on a flat rate of 3,000 gallons. Trash collection has previously been provided to town residents free of charge, but Town Administrator Trudy Martin feels it’s a service the town can no longer continue to provide at no cost. “Things were just becoming way too tight,” she said. With taxpayers picking up the tab, trash pick-up is expected to cost around $7.40 a month. Though town administrators know the changes won’t be welcomed by residents, they feel there is no other option. The town needs additional service vehicles, particularly a more advanced trash truck. The current truck is 11-years-old and requires continuous repairs. The town’s budget has also been hurt by the recent closing of the Hanson Brick Company. The brick and tile plant was solely responsible for purchasing almost half of the town’s natural gas supply. The additional vehicle expenditures, coupled with this loss of revenue from Hanson, leaves the town with a proposed budget of $4.1 million this year. This is significantly lower than last year’s budget, when the town spent $5.46 million. The situation is what it is, said Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue. “We don’t like the prices at the pump, at the grocery store, or anywhere,” said Hogue. “But we just have to deal with it.” Town council members will vote on these changes at the next meeting on Thursday, Mar. 27.