Government and Politics - The Roanoke Rambler

Afraid of Losing Federal Money, Roanoke Removes Diversity, Equity from City Webpages

An official with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development told Roanoke leaders the city's funding was at risk.

City Hall

Higher Meals Tax, Flat School Funding Feature in Roanoke Budget Proposal

City Manager Valmarie Turner began flashing warning signs last month that the city needed to tighten its belt.

Federal Effects

Refugee Resettlement Agency Lays Off Roanoke Staff After Federal Funding Cuts

Refugees living in Roanoke are facing an increasingly unstable future in the wake of federal funding cuts and executive orders.

Education

Roanoke School District May Cut Positions If City Funding Remains Level, Officials Say

Roanoke could also consider raising its meals tax rate to help pay for a backlog of deferred maintenance, a financial advisor said.

City Hall

Roanoke May Need To Slash Millions in City Spending As Budget Woes Emerge

The shortfall could affect schools, public transportation and parks.

City Hall

Roanoke Sues Residents Who Cut Down City-Owned Trees

It’s a rare case for the city to bring to court. In recent years, Roanoke has tried to protect and expand the city’s tree canopy.

City Hall

Powers Sworn In on Roanoke City Council After Council Reverses Earlier Deadlock

The swearing-in capped an intense lobbying campaign to fill the rest of Mayor Joe Cobb’s City Council term.

Politics

As Roanoke City Council Deadlocks Over Filling Vacancy, Judge Says 'It's a Shame'

Roanoke’s political and legal establishment is reeling after a deadlocked City Council said it couldn’t agree on who should become its seventh member.

Transportation

Roanoke's Valley Metro Bus System Still Struggles with Financial Issues, Audit Finds

Problems persist one year after an external audit unearthed issues that could imperil funding and services if not addressed.

Food

After Being Served, Roanoke Restaurants Settle Tax Bills

Recent crackdowns on Roanoke restaurateurs have resulted in an influx of owed taxes to the city, plea deals and dropped criminal charges.

City Hall

Roanoke To Defend Against 2 Lawsuits Alleging Toxic Workplace Under Ex-Leaders

The lawsuits could shed further light on a drama that gripped Roanoke city hall last year, when claims of a toxic workplace preceded the city manager’s resignation.

Politics

Appointee to Roanoke City Council To Determine Fate of Single-Family Zoning Reforms

Battle lines are being drawn over who will fill the remaining two years of Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb’s vacant City Council seat.

City Hall

Roanoke Aims To Seize, Sell Downtown Parking Garage Plagued By Tax, Code Issues

The parking garage beside the Amtrak platform has been closed since April, when city officials deemed the structure unsafe.

City Hall

'Council Isn't Immune': Property Values Are Rising. Here's How Much Elected Leaders' Homes Went Up.

Roanoke property owners are seeing an average 8 percent increase in their real estate tax bills this year, a historically high but downward-trending assessment.

Outdoors

Roanoke Valley Greenway Coordinator Resigns, Saying He Felt Stymied by Governments

“I’ve gotten kind of frustrated by the level of locality cooperation,” Frank Maguire, who's been in the role since 2021, said.

City Hall

Roanoke Botched Funding for After-School Contractor, Lost Out on Grant Money, Audit Finds

The city failed to budget enough money for youth programs run by The Foundry, leading to discord and lost revenue, an audit found.

City Hall

For City Manager, Roanoke Hires Northern Virginia Official with Background in Housing

Valmarie Turner, Fairfax’s deputy city manager, becomes Roanoke’s next city manager next month, replacing Bob Cowell.

Politics

As Cobb Is Elected Mayor, Roanoke City Council Is Poised To Appoint a New Member

David Bowers has until Monday to request a recount, though an analysis of recounts nationwide shows it's unlikely to change the outcome.