By Mike Allen

Archives Reprint

    COLLINSVILLE - Local government officials and representatives from community service groups gathered Tuesday to ask members of the General Assembly not to forget them when it comes time to forge the biannual state budget.

    Several groups left out in the cold in Gov. Mark Warner's proposed budget asked for their funding to be restored. And some government officials criticized the state government for skimping on its obligations to fund education and economic development.

    "The state is once again failing to meet its commitment to public education," said Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham, speaking on behalf of Virginia First Cities, a coalition of the state's oldest cities.

    More than 80 speakers signed up to address 10 state lawmakers during the public hearing on Warner's proposed budget at Patrick Henry Community College. The regional hearing was one of four held throughout the state Tuesday.

    The speeches were indicative of continuing or increasing hard times for many groups dependent on state funding. A handful of speakers voiced support for Warner's proposed tax reform package, which includes tobacco tax increases. The package is expected to face strong opposition in the House of Delegates.

    Raleigh Shortt, commander of the Disabled American Veterans chapter in Richlands, asked legislators to pass Warner's tax reform plan, which includes funds for in-state tuition for children and spouses of veterans.

    Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell came to the podium surrounded by sheriff's deputies. He asked the lawmakers to do more to increase pay for deputies, who have gone without raises in recent years because of state budget cuts. Warner's budget proposes a 3 percent raise for deputies, effective in December 2005.

    Compared to state police, corrections officers or game wardens, deputies are "the lowest paid of any state law enforcement," Cassell said outside the hearing. "If you're going to consider one, consider us all."

    The 15 cities Burcham spoke for bear a disproportionate burden because of cuts to education and funding for law enforcement, she said. She called for the General Assembly to address education needs that have been pinpointed by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the state education board.

    Henry County Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Bushnell addressed a 10 percent across-the-board cut for local prosecutors, and asked legislators to fully fund a program for training prosecutors. "Other prosecutors have had to lay people off," Bushnell said outside the hearing. "I've had to furlough people without pay."

    About 20 representatives from various organizations devoted to helping victims of domestic violence came to protest a proposed $220,000 cut in funding for sexual assault services. Several women who have been victims of domestic violence told the General Assembly members that they owed their lives to these endangered programs.

    Other pleas came from the disabled.

    Christina Draper, 24, a Fieldale woman with cerebral palsy who won the 2003 Ms. Wheelchair Virginia pageant, asked legislators to restore money cut in 2002 to a personal assistant program. Draper's personal assistant, Pam Hairston, held the microphone for Draper as she spoke.

    Draper said that without a personal assistant she wouldn't have been able to attend college. "A lot of the people that need the service can't get it" because new people can't be added to the program, she said.

    Annette Lewis, director of the Total Action Against Poverty's Center for Employment Training at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, asked for the legislators to restore $1.5 million for the program excluded from the governor's budget. The program provides job training at five centers statewide for people from low-income families. The cuts "could very well eliminate the services we are able to provide," Lewis said.

    Greg Rooker, president of Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia, came with a contingent to ask for support for a budget amendment that would provide funding to aid victims of brain injury.

    "When it comes to caring for the disabled, our commonwealth is in a woeful state," Rooker said.

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE.