Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090051
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY L. GARLAND
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
BOTTOM LINE: Allen proposed spending $16.355 billion in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The Democratic majority, assisted by a number of Republicans, settled at $16.495 billion. This difference of only $140 million represents less than 1 percent of anticipated outlays. But Democrats chose the items for which they restored funding with maximum political advantage in mind.
Right off, legislators restored the 50-percent cut Allen asked for in appropriations for numerous local attractions. This amounted to a mere $1.7 million but went a long way toward making heroes of many legislators in the eyes of small but influential groups all over the state. Allen never should have entered a dog in this fight.
The assembly did authorize a study of the commonwealth's proper role in funding the burgeoning growth of these nonstate, local attractions. Their number is closing in on 70, with additions in each succeeding budget. A new one almost joined the ranks in 1995: The Woods Brothers Racing Museum in Patrick County. The Senate wanted to start its engine with a $250,000 state grant, but that was removed in conference.
GETTING DIRECTIONS: In writing about the culture wars recently, I made reference to the Historic Crab Orchard Museum, "wherever it may be." It was down for $30,000 in state funds in the 1994-96 budget, which Allen would have reduced by $7,500. I am glad to report the Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park is alive and well on U.S. 460 between Bluefield and Cedar Bluff, nestled among the scenic splendors of Tazewell County.
According to Director Ross Weeks, 16,550 people found their way to the museum in 1994. In season, you can inspect crops of the 19th century tended by hand: corn, squash, tobacco, potatoes, melons and salsify. If you're as much in the dark about salsify as I was, it is an edible root also called oyster plant. Weeks says some of the older people roll pieces of salsify in corn meal and fry it, not that he particularly recommends it.
Believing that such places should depend on private support, I am sending a small contribution to the Crab Orchard Museum and will look forward to a visit. To the extent we can afford it, we should support such local initiatives and not look to state taxpayers. But given the number of hooks already landed in the budget, it would be wrong to say no to future applicants, and that isn't likely to be the case. For the record, the Crab Orchard Museum is proud of the fact that the bulk of its budget is raised locally.
PRISONS: Allen hoped to build on the momentum from the special assembly session he called last September to receive the recommendations of his commission on parole abolition and sentencing reform, where he got most of what he wanted. But he made the mistake of not nailing down the financing needed for prison expansion. The administration wasn't ready to specify the fine print of future needs, and the assembly went home after finding a mere $56 million to make a start.
In his budget message to the '95 assembly, Allen asked for $402 million in bonds to build prisons. It gave him $95 million, which he termed "woefully inadequate and highly irresponsible." Democrats claimed that when added to money previously appropriated, it would give the state 13,000 new beds by the year 2000. This will be a real point of contention at the veto session April 5.
BINGO: There are few votes in which I take greater pride than voting against the introduction of unregulated gambling in the form of "charitable" bingo back in the '70s. It's ironic that one of the most ardent promoters of the original bingo bill, Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Prince William, has become the most ardent champion of doing something about the bingo fraud that comes to light every year.
Colgan headed a study that brought forth a bill recently enacted to create a state Charitable Games Commission to regulate bingo and raffles. His study estimated the games generate $220 million a year in revenues, of which only a small share goes to charity.
The Charitable Games Commission would be funded by fees generated from the games themselves. These fees, estimated at $500,000 a year, would employ a small staff to police the sport. It would take regulation out of the hands of localities and vest it with the state, which seems sensible. But the bill was amended in the House to exempt volunteer firefighters and rescue squads. Colgan has asked Allen to send down an amendment removing this exemption.
BUYOUTS: Another hot potato on Allen's desk is legislation granting various benefits to state employees affected by downsizing. If the state is serious about a permanent reduction in its work force, various items in the bill, such as a "cash-out" benefit up to a maximum of 36 weeks' salary and continuing health insurance for a year, aren't unreasonable. But the bill also grants an early-retirement credit that could be very costly.
Continuing an overall hiring freeze and allowing normal retirements and attrition to reduce state employment would be less expensive. Many of the jobs vacated under Gov. Douglas Wilder's costly early-retirement bonus have since been filled. Too bad we haven't the benefit of a study of all operations of state government by outside management consultants to provide a road map through a mine field.
Ray L. Garland is a Roanoke Times & World-News columnist.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB