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Local lawmakers weigh in on governor's proposed cuts
Tough times are ahead for Virginia residents, Gov. Tim Kaine (D) said last week while announcing plans to cut nearly $1 billion from the state's budget for the coming fiscal year.“Just like families and businesses, state government is feeling the effects of the national economic crisis,” Kaine said in a statement. “We're going to have to reduce our spending to make ends meet.”
In Loudoun, many local legislators say the governor's proposed funding cuts are the responsible move.
“These are difficult economic times,” said state Sen. Mark Herring (D-eastern Loudoun). “I think it's the right approach to take.”
He said the governor looked at ways to streamline inefficient state agencies.
Fellow Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-western Loudoun) said the state's budget shortfall could lead to streamlining spending.
“In a perfect economy, we were going to have a $1 billion deficit,” she said. “Let's say the economy hadn't tanked ... we would still have to make these cuts and it's going to affect the localities.”
The governor's announcement, Vogel said, put everything on the table for revision.
And it is likely that the focus of the General Assembly session in January will be the economy, lawmakers agreed.
“I think there is no question that this is going to be the whole session and it will color everything that we propose this session,” Vogel said.
Specifically, legislators say cuts to transportation project funding in Northern Virginia is a concern.
“The shoe that hasn't dropped yet is the transportation funding,” said Del. C. Chuck Caputo (D-Dulles). “We're all nervous about that.”
Del. Tom Rust (R-Sterling) agreed, saying, “I think VDOT will take a lot of the cuts in their programs and their staff.”
During last year's session and special session on transportation, legislators debated the use of the state's “rainy day” fund to fill in budget gaps for transportation needs.
The result of the debate was no action on transportation and no approval of using these funds.
The debate over using the fund to help pay for transportation projects was largely drawn along party lines, with Republicans against and Democrats for using the fund.
Now the question of using the “rainy day” fund is not so complicated, local legislators said.
“That was a perfect example about why you don't dip into the 'rainy day' fund during good times,” Vogel said. “It's there for times like this.”
Having a plan is just the first step, Rust said. He said the deficit might go as high as $3 billion for the next two years.
Like many Virginians, the legislators are waiting to see how bad the economy gets. Their job over the next six months or so will be coming up with the best solution at home, said Del. David Poisson (D-northeastern Loudoun).
“We're trying to deal with this crisis in a way that won't add to the [taxpayers'] burden at home,” he said.
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
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