Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1994 TAG: 9403090167
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
In separate statements, House and Senate negotiators said they would try to resume their talks today. The General Assembly schedule calls for the budget compromise to be on legislators' desks by noon Thursday, two days before the session is to end.
"It is regrettable but there are significant issues which separate us," said Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, the Senate majority leader and Finance Committee chairman.
Andrews said in the statement that the conferees were divided over aid to local police and school maintenance and construction funds.
The House statement mentioned only the disagreement over school maintenance.
"It wasn't negotiable," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Ball, D-Richmond, told reporters. "We couldn't get them to move on anything else until we got that solved."
The House wants $18 million to go for helping schools with maintenance projects such as roof repair and renovations. The Senate went along with former Gov. Douglas Wilder's plan to save money by dropping the maintenance fund created for the 1992-94 budget.
The House conferees said the maintenance fund preserves school buildings and minimizes the need to build new schools.
The Senate proposed $11.8 million in aid to police departments, with the most money going to high-crime areas. The House suggested $3 million.
"The House conferees have declined to come even half way toward the Senate position" on police aid, said Sen. Stanley Walker, D-Norfolk. "This is the cornerstone of the Senate anti-crime initiative."
Asked by reporters about the standoff, Senate conferee John Chichester said, "I'm not being unreasonable" before he hurried to an elevator.
Missing the budget compromise deadline set under assembly rules could delay an agreement on the incentive package for the proposed Disney theme park in Prince William County.
Chichester and Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Prince William, are on the negotiating team for both the budget and the Disney bills. The House and Senate negotiators on Disney are scheduled to hold their first meeting today.
Chichester, R-Fredericksburg, is one of two Republicans serving as budget conferees for the first time. Del. Vince Callahan, R-McLean, is on the House team.
Traditionally, six Democrats have worked out the budget compromise.
The other House conferees are Dels. Earl Dickinson, D-Louisa County, and Alan Diamonstein, D-Newport News.
by CNB