RSSCounty notes
State legislators grapple with grim budget numbers
Virginia legislators were met with more dismal budget forecasts at their annual finance committee retreat last week.
State payroll revenues are on track to decline year-over-year for the first time ever, according Del. Lacey I. Putney (I-Bedford), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. This and other revenue losses have left a hole in the range of $300 million in the current year's budget, which ends June 30, on top of billions in cuts state agencies and localities have absorbed over the past two years.
The next biennial budget -- which Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will propose in December and the legislature and Gov.-elect Robert McDonnell (R) will begin tackling in January -- could require 10 to 15 percent in additional cuts to state agency budgets.
"It is grim, but it is not surprising," said Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale). "There's need for such sizeable cuts on top of what we've already done going back to '07."
Virginia's reputation for being a well-managed state "does put us in a much better position, compared to most other states ... but that doesn't make the cuts any easier."
Watts says she is paying close attention to schools funding, particularly to ensure Fairfax County is not asked to bear a disproportionate amount of cuts. "It's so tempting to look at Fairfax because of its size," Watts said.
County to receive early childhood education dollars
Two agencies will receive $1.1 million in federal stimulus dollars for early childhood education programs. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will receive $610,581 for Head Start programs, and Northern Virginia Family Services will receive $552,969, according to U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly's (D-Dist. 11) office. The additional funds will allow existing programs to expand, according to Connolly.
Defense bill includes
roads study
The fiscal 2010 military construction appropriations bill that passed the U.S. Senate unanimously last week includes $450,000 to study traffic improvements necessitated by the 2005 base realignments. Fort Belvoir, in Fairfax County, is one of the bases that will experience substantial growth as a result of the base realignment process.
Belvoir will also receive $8.4 million to construct a flight control tower and $9.5 million for improvements to its roads and access controls, according to Sen. James Webb's (D) office.