VML  Local Governments Working Together Since 1905
VML Action Call
January 25, 2008

Call senators, delegates in support of HB 599 funding

Below you will find for your consideration and action the draft of a letter to be sent to your delegates and senators regarding the "599" program that helps fund local police departments.

We urge you to write your legislative delegation, and if you use the draft letter attached, please tailor it to fit your situation. Include information on the amounts you spend on law enforcement activities and the number of police officers that equate to "599" dollars. We also ask that you either copy or blind copy VML on the letter. It's important for us to know which delegates and senators were contacted and the information you conveyed to the delegation.

If you have already contacted your delegation, please send us a copy. Or, if you have any questions, please contact Janet Areson (jareson@vml.org), Mary Jo Fields (mfields@vml.org), or Neal Menkes (nmenkes@vml.org).

Thanks for your help.

List of all delegates and contact information. List of all senators and contact information.

HB 599 draft letter ...

Dear Delegate or Senator ________:

The local law enforcement funding program known as "599" is essential to providing adequate police protection in our community. I hope that {city / town / county} residents and law enforcement officers can count on you to support the 599 program as the state budget is debated.

About 65 percent of all Virginians depend on local police departments for public safety services. The officers of every participating police department -- 39 cities, nine counties, and 128 towns -- must meet the minimum training requirements set by the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.

As you know, the "599" dollars must be used to cover the cost of local public safety services, and cannot be used to supplant local funding. Public safety is a core service for us and for the state. In fiscal year 200__, we spent almost $_____ on law enforcement activities, while receiving $___ in "599" money.

For our community, the "599" money equates to the salaries of ____ police officers, who protect our citizens and property around the clock.

Some members of the General Assembly have said that the "599" program should be further cut or eliminated, because it is an anachronism tied to old annexation battles.

While a driving force for adoption of the "599" program was annexation, another important aspect was to equalize state funding between counties in which the sheriff provided law enforcement and those cities, counties and towns with police departments.

The state provided funding then for sheriff's departments, but not for police. Certainly the citizens in (name of your locality) are as deserving of state support for local law enforcement. Your support is important to preserve and restore funding for the program. The governor proposes a $10.7 million reduction for each year of the new biennium, and additional proposed cuts could be forthcoming.

Sincerely,

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