March 27, 2008

Send e-mails, faxes on budget to governor by March 31

Local governments need to e-mail or fax Gov. Tim Kaine their objections to cuts in local programs included in the state budgets (HB 29 for FY08, HB 30 for 2008-2010). These budgets contain $378 million in cuts to state-mandated services delivered by local governments and in services that localities deliver in partnership with the state. Of that amount, $100 million ($50 million in FY09 and $50 million in FY10) is unidentified.

Cities, towns and counties must act for several reasons.

First, local governments need to make it clear to the governor (and to the General Assembly) that cuts in state aid to local governments translate into service cuts to core programs, or increased taxes at the local level.

Second, VML is concerned that HB 599 funding will be targeted for disproportionate cuts when the administration releases a menu of programs from which local governments can make their share of the $50 million cuts.

A recent article in the Lynchburg News & Advance indicated that the governor has been told by some members of the House of Delegates that the HB 599 program should be reduced or even eliminated. Link to newspaper article. Copy of newspaper article (Word file.) We thank the newspaper for allowing us to distribute this article.

Each local government should e-mail or fax the governor by March 31 about the likely fiscal consequences of HB 29 and HB 30. The second attached file contains two model letters; the first is suitable for localities with school divisions; the second is for towns that do not operate their own schools. Please note that each letter has italicized language that will need to be replaced with locality-specific information.

Please be sure to copy VML at mfields@vml.org with your correspondence.

VML's budget overview, including a chart listing the cuts to local programs, is included on VML's Web site.