THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, February 4, 1995             TAG: 9502040005
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

VIRGINIA HIGHER EDUCATION DON'T CUT STATE'S THROAT

The economic progress we need will not happen if Virginia's universities remain mired near the bottom in public support when compared to other states.

- Former Govs. Mills E. Godwin Jr., Linwood Holton and Gerald L. Baliles in a Jan. 25 letter to the Virginia General Assembly.

The words of the three former governors who the other day counseled the Virginia General Assembly to vote more spending for state-supported colleges and universities than Governor Allen proposes weighed heavily with legislators.

In order to fund higher education, among other needed programs, the Democrat-controlled legislature subsequently killed Mr. Allen's tax-cut initiatives.

But will the prestigious trio's sage advice influence the populace when Mr. Allen sets out next fall to persuade voters to elect a Republican legislature to shrink Virginia's government and Virginians' tax bills? Maybe yes, maybe no. Mr. Allen may not be as popular as he was. But tax cuts are ever popular. Mr. Allen won office in part by promising to chop spending that he characterized as profligate and lighten taxation that he described as burdensome.

The picture didn't jibe with reality. Virginia has long been a low-tax state. Democratic Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, whom Republican Allen succeeded, won accolades for holding the line against taxes while other states raised theirs. Confronted by a tax-revenue shortfall produced by the last economic recession, Mr. Wilder balanced the state budget with ruthless cuts.

As he had to do: Virginians were - are - hostile to higher taxes. Like Americans generally, Virginians suffered financially in the recession. Insecurity lingers.

Mr. Wilder's achievement apparently counted little with voters who bought Mr. Allen's line that state government squanders their money. Mr. Allen handily defeated Democrat Mary Mary Sue Terry.

But Virginia's business and financial leaders now fear Mr. Allen's cutbacks in higher education would injure the state's economy. They urge a heavier investment in schooling. The economy has improved. Governor Wilder was forced to cut college and university funding deeply and gracelessly. But the economy has since rebounded. Six years ago, Virginia ranked 23rd in per-student funding of higher education. Today the state ranks 43rd. Mr. Allen would have Virginia sink to the bottom of the ladder.

Speaking through its Business-Higher Education Council, corporate Virginia has called upon the legislature to spend tens of millions more for colleges and universities than Mr. Allen would. Ex-Govs. Godwin, Holton and Baliles have amplified the call. Good for them. by CNB