| Page 3 of 3 < |
Layoffs, Trims In Education, Services Coming
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"Every agency is on the table," said Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey. "Nothing is going to be exempt."
The layoffs and other cuts announced today will account for about one-third of the state's shortfall. More reductions will probably occur in January, when the General Assembly reconvenes.
In that round of reductions, cuts to public education might have to be made, administration officials said.
"There is nothing yet that is going to impact the classrooms in this school year," said Delacey Skinner, Kaine's communications director.
In preparation for his announcement, Kaine said he is curtailing his office and living expenses. His executive office budget will shrink by 10 percent.
Kaine said he will limit expenses, including his staff's cellphone costs, end purchases of jugs of water and cancel some newspaper subscriptions. He will also continue the 5 percent self-imposed cut to his $175,000 annual salary implemented last year.
Hickey said Kaine will hold fewer official events at the governor's mansion. And those will feature lower-quality beer and wine and a less exquisite range of food. The cooks will be encouraged to use "leftovers," Hickey said.
"If Virginia families and business have to make difficult spending decisions in tough times, we need to show them we're doing the same," Kaine said.
The latest proposals are in addition to the $1.7 billion in reductions that Kaine and the General Assembly made last year when the housing downturn began.
Many House Republicans resisted efforts last year to tap the state's "rainy day" reserve fund, saying then that they didn't think the economic conditions were bad enough to warrant such a move.
But House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) said he will support taking money from the fund this year because he says Virginia could face its worst budget crisis in more than a decade.
"There is no question it is raining," Griffith said. "In fact, I would say, while we have had some drizzle and some mist in the past, in my 15 years in the House this is the first solid rain we have had. This is the time you use the rainy day fund."
Staff writers Daniel de Vise and Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report.
