THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Tuesday, March 28, 1995 TAG: 9503280297 SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Gov. George F. Allen dealt the cards for yet another legislative showdown Monday, challenging lawmakers to cut $15 million from the state budget during next week's special session of the General Assembly.
Still more proposed cuts could be unveiled today.
Allen wants Monday's cuts to finance the first installment of a five-year plan to eventually give all lottery profits to city and county governments. Localities would be required to use the money for education, law enforcement or cuts in local taxes.
Among the proposed cuts were selling the state yacht, trimming the budget for the House of Delegates, reducing planned renovations to legislative committee rooms and other expenses Allen characterized as ``less-than-necessary.''
Also on the block were specific programs for housing, welfare, local Community Services Boards and public broadcasting - smaller versions of cuts he tried to make during the contentious General Assembly session.
``This is real money,'' Allen said at an afternoon news conference, using the playground of a western Richmond elementary school as a backdrop. ``This is true, actual additional dollars going to localities.''
The proposal got a cool reception from Democrats, and even from those who stand to benefit from the plan. James D. Campbell, executive director of the Virginia Association of Counties, circulated a statement Monday afternoon saying he was ``cautiously optimistic.''
``This is just half the picture,'' Campbell said. ``The governor may have a pocketful of amendments that could be detrimental to local government programs. We just don't know.''
Indeed, the governor and his staff shrugged off queries about Allen's further plans Monday - the last day for him to sign, veto or propose amendments to legislation passed during this year's session. Allen said he planned to work late into the night to meet the midnight deadline, and would disclose his proposals today.
But Sen. Hunter B. Andrews, D-Hampton, Senate majority leader and a key budget writer, said he has been told to expect 59 proposed amendments to the budget alone.
Other Democrats, who hold slim majorities in both chambers of the legislature, predicted a short session April 5, when lawmakers reconvene to consider vetoes or amendments. The General Assembly already rejected many of Allen's proposed cuts earlier this year.
Most called Allen's plan an attempt to force recorded, sound-bite votes on hot topics, to arm Republicans during the fall elections.
``It's dim, it's dull-witted. He's engaging in the exact same behavior pattern that got him zilch in the General Assembly session,'' said Del. Jay W. DeBoer, D-Petersburg, a member of the House Finance Committee. ``The legislature will not do something just because you call the members names.''
The General Assembly already passed a measure this year requiring that the state's $300 million in annual lottery money be spent on education. But because the lottery profits simply go into the state's general fund without increasing the $2 billion already spent on education, Allen called the requirement ``a cynical, deceptive shell game.''
Still, Democrats say Allen could be playing a shell game of his own. By giving lottery money to localities, Allen would create a $300 million hole in the state's education budget, said Andrews.
``Where will that money come from?'' Andrews asked. ``I hope that's a fair question.''
Of the first $15 million, localities would get just over $25 per student. That translates to about $623,000 for Norfolk, $1.2 million for Virginia Beach, $552,000 for Chesapeake, $342,000 for Portsmouth, $161,000 for Suffolk, $93,000 for Accomack County, $44,000 for Northampton County, $49,000 for Southampton County, $33,000 for Franklin and $69,000 for Isle of Wight County.
Also, $191,000 for Roanoke City, $54,000 for Salem, $208,000 for Roanoke County, $143,000 for Montgomery County, $70,000 for Botetourt, $14,000 for Bedford City, $134,000 for Bedford County, $105,000 for Franklin County. by CNB