Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 1, 1994 TAG: 9402020255
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Jim Shuler
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gov. Allen has submitted his amendments to the budget and legislators have also completed their individual requests.
I have filed several amendments on behalf of Virginia Tech.
The budget presented by former Gov. Wilder proposed eliminating the Water Resources Center and the Center for Coal and Energy Research.
He also called for a reduction of $3.5 million for the Extension Division at Virginia Tech.
I have co-sponsored budget amendments to restore funding for each of these programs.
I have also requested $500,000 to provide computers and technology in the classrooms. If Virginia Tech is going to offer a quality education, students must be knowledgeable about new technologies.
The second request is $1.3 million in student aid. As tuition and fees have increased in recent years, there has been a greater demand for financial aid and scholarships. This money will help deserving students receive a college education.
I have also asked for $1.1 million to convert residence halls in the Upper Quad to classrooms. New dormitories are already under construction and this conversion will help Tech meet critical space needs.
The most discussed issue during the past week has been the proposed Disney project in Northern Virginia. Supporters and opponents were busy calling on legislators.
Briefly, the theme park would represent an investment of $650 million and provide jobs for several thousand people. Disney is asking the state to provide $142 million worth of highway and $21 million in other incentives. The state would issue bonds that would be repaid from taxes generated by the theme park.
If revenues did not meet expectations, then general funds, your tax dollars, would be used to pay back the funds.
Virginia has not in the past offered this much assistance to any company locating in the state. Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens both had to pay for road improvements.
I believe that Disney will have a very positive impact on Virginia. However, the price tag is very high and may be a bad precedent. If Disney gets $163 million, how much will the next major company coming to Virginia cost us?
Another tourism-related issue is the start of the school year. Several years back, the General Assembly mandated that public schools not open before the Labor Day holiday.
By keeping schools closed until after Labor Day, attractions like Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion and Virginia Beach hotels were assured both a ready supply of seasonal labor and families able to spend a long weekend at the end of summer.
For Southwest Virginia, this law produces more problems than benefits. With the usual loss of school days to snow and ice, many times our children are in school until the middle of June. My biggest concern is that this is another instance of the state making a decision that should be decided at the local level. This year, the General Assembly will be asked to repeal this law and let local school districts determine their opening date.
If you want to contact my office directly, you can call me at (804) 786-8425; or you can write me at P.O. Box 406, Richmond, Va., 23203.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB