News

Delegation Targets School Funding, Holds Hope For Transportation

January 21, 2010

When the Loudoun delegation to the General Assembly arrived at the capitol this week, greeting them was an estimated $4 billion budget shortfall, continuing pressure for a comprehensive transportation funding plan, and, for 20 freshman members of the House of Delegates, a very steep learning curve.

For one of Loudoun's two new representatives Del. Tag Greason (R-32), the first week was "awe inspiring."

"The first time you walk into the chamber and you see your name on the voting board, it's inspirational," he said. "You realize it's not the campaign anymore, it's the real thing."

While avoiding any of the humorous mistakes that sometimes plague first-time delegates and enjoying the ceremony of the first week, Greason admitted that he has been surprised by the sheer volume of information to be digested and understood, almost instantaneously.

"There are 20 plus people who rotate through my office on any given morning. And that's OK because they bring me the information I need and they're here to help," he said, talking about the administrators, lobbyists and citizens who frequent the General Assembly.

One area where Greason, and all members of the General Assembly, will be spending a large portion of their time during this long session is on the budget. Greason laughingly acknowledged he has "three one-inch thick books that basically are the budget. They are filled with tabs and sticky notes and all sorts of things."

Although only days old in the General Assembly, Greason is well aware of what $4 billion in cuts means for the state's ability to fund all of Virginia's programs.

"There are going to be cuts everywhere," he said. "Medicaid and education are such large components of the budget, 25 to 30 percent of the budget each. We have to really look at the big areas if we're going to make a dent. The 'easy' stuff was cut already."

That sentiment seems to be prevalent in the Loudoun delegation, albeit with a reluctant air.

"We have, in the last couple of years, been able to shield education. This time we're not going to be able to do that and every area will see cuts," Sen. Mark Herring (33), the delegation's lone Democrat, said. "I think it's important to evaluate all of the programs that the state has to see which ones are still needed, which ones can be done less expensively. I think it's important to live within the means that we have."

"The hole is so big that you can't just selectively say, OK, you get to keep your funding, and you have to pay a lot of money," Del. Joe T. May (R-33) agreed. "In that way, you end up just totally crippling some areas."

May said he expected to see cuts around 15 percent across the board and that early bills he has reviewed seem to be "keeping in mind everyone is going to have to feel the pain."

One area where Loudoun is concerned about feeling too much pain is in the proposal to freeze the composite index, which many sources estimate could result in a loss of $34 million to the county school system. In Richmond, the Loudoun delegation is leading the charge against the freeze, saying that is not the right way to address needed cuts in education.

"Certainly there will be some cuts in education, but we believe that the composite index is not the right way to approach it," May said. "We're already moving to try and head that off at the pass."

One of those attempts is a budget adjustment submitted by Herring to reverse the proposed delay in reformulating the composite index used to dictate state education funding for localities.

"The total number of members whose districts are benefited from this far outweigh the number of districts that are hurt by this," Herring said, optimistic of his chances to get the freeze changed. "It should be one of the issues that unites the entire Northern Virginia delegation. Fairfax is hit pretty hard, Prince William County is hit, but none of them are hurt proportionally as much as Loudoun. As a region we should all be united."

As was urged by Loudoun residents during the Jan. 7 town hall meeting, the delegation said it is looking for ways to bring as much impact to those people who need services provided by government the most.

"When I was elected to this office, my thought on the role of government is to help people who cannot help themselves. The trick is drawing that line," Greason said. "I am not in the business of creating a government who helps everyone, but one that works so the people who really do need help can get it."

Even with the challenging budget talks ahead, transportation remains a top priority for members of the Loudoun delegation. While the bill is only in draft form and has not yet been submitted, May said he is working with fellow-Loudoun representative Del. Tom Rust (R-86) and Del. Vivian Watts (D-39) on a "comprehensive transportation funding bill."

In the meantime, May has submitted a bill he put in last year that would form a commission on the state's transportation needs charged with finding alternatives to planning and funding. The commission, if approved, would include 21 members including former Governors Gerald L. Baliles and George Allen, 10 legislative members, four members at large, and five ex officio members.

"I have had an opportunity to chat with both Allen and Baliles about it and they indicated they're both willing to do it," May said. "It's a good start, but this would get us a very good start on it. Lord knows we've waited long enough."

For his part, Herring said he is unhappy with newly inaugurated Gov. Bob McDonnell's announcement that he would not propose a solution for transportation during this session.

"During the campaign the governor said he had a detailed plan to fix roads. He needs to bring that plan forward," Herring said. "Putting off the problem is not going to make it any easier. Delaying it is only going to compound the problem."

Sources do indicate that McDonnell may call a special session on transportation later this year.

This year's session of the General Assembly is being streamed through the legislature's Web site, http://legis.virginia.gov. A full schedule of meetings and a listing of proposed bills can be found online as well.

Leesburg Today
By Erika Jacobson Moore