THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240217
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Legislators in the General Assembly recently restored $150 million in proposed budget cuts to public education, our universities and colleges, law enforcement, mental health and elderly services and the arts. Gov. George Allen had recommended the cuts in state services to offset a loss in revenue from proposed reductions in state income taxes.
Citizens from all over the state responded to the budget proposal with pleas to maintain funds for education, public safety, health and services for the elderly and disabled. Local officials implored the legislature to consider the impact of the budget on localities.
The effect to the City of Portsmouth appeared devastating with the following losses:
$286,000 in grants for police;
$199,324 in maintenance funds for schools;
$295,236 in dropout funds;
total loss to the school system, $744,560;
more than $60,000 to libraries.
In addition, Portsmouth Community Services Board would have lost $187,776 and many other services to the elderly, such as Meals on Wheels, would have been cut. Cuts in funding for our state colleges and universities would further affect not only our citizens, but also our economic progress.
Former governors Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Linwood Holton and Gerald Baliles released a letter that countered Gov. Allen's contention that state government spending has grown irresponsibly and cited Virginia's bipartisan tradition of careful fiscal management and low taxation. The letter urged investing in Virginia's future by reaffirming support for higher education.
``I know people are concerned about government spending too much,'' said former Gov. Godwin, ``but you've got to match that against essential needs that exist.''
This unprecedented appeal from the former governors, coupled with the public outcry, was a key turning point in the budget battle. The case for reducing services to give a small tax cut was difficult to make, especially in Virginia. As Scott Mackey, a fiscal analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said in the New York Times, ``Virginia is a special case. It's a low-tax state already and the changes the governor was proposing would have meant significant disruption in the state's finances.''
Ultimately, the governor's budget package was defeated as approximately a dozen Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure, while 37 members abstained and no votes were cast in support.
Rep. William S. Moore Jr.
District 79
Feb. 22, 1995 by CNB