Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
Virginia, which was No.1 in 1992 and 1993, was edged out this year by Utah. The magazine did not rank the states last year, so Virginia was the reigning champion for three consecutive years.
Financial World said all 50 states were graded from A to F in three major areas: financial management, managing for results and infrastructure maintenance. Utah and Virginia received straight A's.
``But Utah was just a little stronger in the financial management category,'' said Katherine Barrett, a Financial World contributing editor.
Barrett said Virginia slipped to No.2 not because its performance worsened, but because Utah's improved. That was little consolation to Del. Alan Diamonstein, D-Newport News, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
``It's very disappointing,'' he said. ``We were very proud of that No.1 rating.''
Diamonstein said Republican Gov. George Allen's administration has failed to build on the success of his Democratic predecessor, Douglas Wilder.``It tells us that obviously what we were doing [was] right; there must have been some change, and we're doing it all wrong,'' Diamonstein said. ``The approach used by the present administration didn't improve the situation, so that has to be looked at.''
Allen put a positive spin on the rankings, saying ``Virginia's long reputation of prudent financial management clearly is serving our citizens well.''
by CNB