Monday, February 05, 2007
Legislators slash Kaine programs
In the state budget, millions were cut from the governor's land conservation efforts and from pre-K pilot projects.
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roanoke.com/politics
RICHMOND -- The General Assembly's budget committees unveiled spending proposals Sunday that cut two of Gov. Tim Kaine's major initiatives, reducing funding that Kaine wants for land conservation and pilot preschool programs.
Panels from the Senate and House of Delegates dramatically reduced Kaine's $20 million land conservation initiative, which could set back the governor's ambitious plan to conserve 400,000 acres of open space during his term. The House Appropriations Committee also redirected $4.6 million Kaine proposed for pilot projects to expand access to pre-kindergarten programs, sending a strong signal about Kaine's long-range goal of having universal preschool in Virginia.
In proposing revisions to the state's two-year budget, the House and Senate panels generally backed Kaine's plans to increase funding for education, public safety and human services programs. They largely left aside an unresolved fight over long-term transportation funding, but agreed with Kaine to plow surplus tax revenue into one-time road and transit needs. The full House and Senate will vote on the plans later this week.
"Clearly, this budget meets core obligations for education, health care and public safety as well as invests substantial general fund dollars to improve Virginia's network of roads, rail and public transit," said House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, of the House budget proposal.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Chichester, R-Northumberland County, said his panel's proposal "carefully allocates taxpayer dollars, mindfully incurs new obligations and selectively employs long-term debt."
Kaine spokesman Kevin Hall said the legislative proposals "build on a strong state budget" the governor proposed in December that would increase total state spending to $73.8 billion for the two-year period ending June 30, 2008. Both budget committees dramatically reduced Kaine's $20 million land conservation initiative. The House panel cut $14.6 million, leaving intact money Kaine proposed for farm preservation grants. The Senate cut all $20 million, but distributed $8 million among various conservation programs.
Del. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, the chairman of a House subcommittee that proposed the reduction, said the House budget still makes meaningful investments in conservation and environmental programs, including a $50 million increase for wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
Cox said House budget writers made an effort to steer available dollars toward reducing waiting lists for mental retardation and developmentally disabled services rather than use them for new intiatives.
The House budget wipes out funding Kaine sought for pilot preschool programs, while the Senate cut $1.2 million from the proposal. Members of the House panel said Kaine's proposal has not been fully developed and argued that money could be better spent elsewhere.
"It is disappointing that some lawmakers appear reluctant to support smart, modest investments in innovative early childhood initiatives," Hall said. "We will continue to work with lawmakers to gain support for involving private-sector providers to help expand access to high quality pre-K."
The House committee also cut $17 million in Kaine's proposed operating increases at state colleges and recommended a $34 million "incentive fund" that would be distributed to colleges based on their ability to minimize tuition increases. The Senate plan preserves Kaine's increases and adds additional funding for research and financial aid.
The Senate budget proposal partly addresses a controversy over a proposed intermodal rail yard in Montgomery County that would receive state funding. County officials oppose a plan to build the Norfolk Southern facility in Elliston and have complained about the lack of input on site selection.
The Senate budget would require "that the selection of an intermodal rail facility ... takes into consideration the interest of all affected parties."
Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, had sought stronger language that would require local government input on the facility, but said he was pleased with what budget writers proposed.
"I'm pleased that they put something in there that fit with what I was trying to do, which was to take into account the localities along with the state and Norfolk Southern," Bell said.
Both budgets contain grants for Roanoke Valley arts and cultural attractions, but amounts vary greatly.
For instance, the Senate plan provides $250,000 to the Art Museum of Western Virginia, while the House budget contains twice that amount. Funding for such projects is typically hammered out by House and Senate negotiators.
"Except for transportation, it's a good budget for the valley," said Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
michael.sluss@roanoke.com (804) 697-1585
mason.adams@roanoke.com (804) 697-1584
