Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 11, 1993 TAG: 9301110225
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
THERE'S NO SHORTFALL, BUT MONEY'S STILL TIGHT
In each of the past two General Assembly sessions, Virginia lawmakers and Gov. Douglas Wilder have haggled over how to handle million-dollar shortfalls in the state's budget.There will be no shortfall to fuss over in 1993, but tight finances still are expected to be focal points for battle during the assembly session that begins Wednesday. Lawmakers will have about $207 million in unexpected revenue and savings to divvy up, barely pocket change in a two-year budget of $28 billion.
The key dispute apparently will be Wilder's recommendation of a 2 percent pay raise later this year for state employees, with nothing for public schoolteachers.
In public hearings across the state earlier this month, legislators outlined plans to dip into Wilder's proposed "rainy day" fund for the money to give teachers a raise. Senate leaders have said a 2 percent raise for teachers would cost the state $16 million.
The $30 million "rainy day" fund Wilder prefers would give the state a cushion to soften the blow from any economic downturn. Under a constitutional amendment passed last fall, such a fund is not required until 1995.
Several key House leaders have urged use of the money now, arguing that it's raining already. Because this is an election year for delegates, there's been virtually no talk of new taxes to generate money.
Lawmakers also are expected to dig in and oppose Wilder's plan to keep in state coffers $20 million in real estate sales taxes. The money has long been promised to localities, but has been held up by the state during budget woes of the past few years.
The so-called "short session" of the General Assembly, which occurs in odd-numbered years, only allows for fine-tuning of the two-year budget adopted last year by the 1992 General Assembly.
While most of the $207 million in Wilder's interim budget must go to support growing prison, school and Medicaid populations, the governor wants $65 million to cover state employees' raises and to create the "rainy day" fund.
He's also asked for $4.4 million to beef up collections from state tax scofflaws; $1.5 million to help pay for underground contamination cleanup at Cheatham Annex in York County; $1.1 million to add 15 new state troopers for a violent crime strike force; $600,000 for 13 new state park employees; $300,000 to open a new state trade office in Africa; and $250,000 for seven new inspectors for child day-care centers.
Although the 140 legislators will have their say on the budget toward the end of the 46-day session, average citizens get one more formal chance to speak up during a final public hearing scheduled for Jan. 18 in Richmond.
Members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees have called the 2 p.m. session. The hearing will be conducted in the General Assembly Building located in Capitol Square.
\ Tuesday: outlook for legislation on child day care during this General Assembly session.
\ WHO TO CALL\ \ Sen. Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee: Richmond legislative office - (804) 786-6593. Home district office - (804) 722-2581.\ \ Del. Robert Ball Sr., D-Henrico, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee: Richmond legislative office - (804) 786-6906. Home district office - (804) 262-1861.\ \ Rob Jones, president of the Virginia Education Association, 116 S. Third St., Richmond: (804) 648-5801.\ \ Joan Dent, Virginia Governmental Employees Association Inc., 3105 W. Marshall St., Richmond: (804) 355-3120. The Virginia Municipal League, which lobbies for city governments, 13 E. Franklin St., Richmond: (804) 649-8471.\ \ The Virginia Association of Counties, which lobbies for county governments, 1001 E. Broad St., Richmond: (804) 788-6652.