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By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON
RICHMOND, Va.
Virginia's fiscal picture remained dim, as a panel of state legislators and business leaders got another look at prospects for the state's upcoming budget.
Gov. Timothy Kaine on Monday met with his Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates to hear state fiscal projections, the final such meeting of his four-year term. Kaine then will likely use the most conservative revenue figures — updated at the end of the month to include November tax receipts — as the foundation of his proposed biennial budget, which he will present to the General Assembly's money committees Dec. 18.
After the meeting, Kaine and other legislators didn't disclose figures but said the estimates the council heard Monday largely squared with information presented last week to General Assembly budget writers. Analysts projected that Virginia needs to cut at least $250 million more from its budget, and face an anticipated shortfall of nearly $3 billion for the next two years.
Kaine said Monday he wouldn't rule out proposing tax increases to help preserve core services, Virginia's AAA bond rating and its competitiveness with other states — but the General Assembly would ultimately decide.
The round of cuts he proposed in September, including large funding reductions to public higher education, will carry over to the 2011-12 fiscal year, Kaine said.
Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov.-elect Bill Bolling also attended the meeting. The Republican said afterward that he and Kaine planned to meet Monday to discuss the state's financial picture, and he reiterated that he would rule out raising taxes.
Economic conditions have forced more than $5.5 billion in state budget reductions in a little over a year. A shortfall of at least $1 billion already confronts the new two-year budget that McDonnell and legislators must assemble during the upcoming General Assembly session.
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it's interesting
It's interesting that for the past 4 years you guys have complained about "little Timmy Kane", but can't stand it when people complain about little Bobby McD. Interesting but typical!
kaine is short
I call Kaine, little Timmy, because he is short.
thats the way it goes, we
thats the way it goes, we won you lost get over it.
""we won""
Not sure what you think you won, but in a few months we wil all find out. I didn't vote for Deeds either, becaue neither of the nominee's are what's right for VA. One thing is for sure McD will only be in office for 4 years, but I wonder how many decades it wil take us to get over him. Bobby McD made a lot of campaign promises....now let's see him get them done.
Double Standard
It amazes me to listen to budget opinions of folks in this navy town. An enlisted man with no college degree (and no student loan) is earning more than a teacher by his second enlistment. Yet the finger pointing around here mostly comes from military and civil service folks. "Serving my country" they say. Baloney. As if state police and highway workers and teachers don't serve? So it okay to have a cushy retirement on the federal deficit but not okay to pay state employees enough to live on after federal taxes are paid? State employees don't go overseas on deployment, but most work two jobs (even those with degrees), work 24/7/365, and injury and death and assault are not uncommon.
Your kidding right ?
Go overseas on deployment....
Yeah that little detail. Being away from family for months or sometimes years. Being shot at in a war zone and seeing friends maimed and killed and knowing that you could be next. Spending each night in a hostile land. Coming home with PTSD and realizing that soon you will be back for yet another tour.
Sure....just like state workers....please.
deployment comparison
The comparison to a deployment to a hostile environment is not a good one. However, I believe the author was correct in the aspect that government employees (whether, federal, state, city, etc) are all equally serving the public.
And for the record...not every military member has been shot at. So would you suggest those whose service hasn't sent them to hostile environments or those who have never been away from family any less of a service member?
Typical comments--- The
Typical comments---
The government spends too much, but don't cut the funds to:
Roads
Public School
Community Restoration
Health Care
Food Stamps
The Arts
I can't speak for everyone, but in my house, when money gets tight we do without some of our "wants" and just take care of our "needs" Yes, it might be hard. It might be difficult, but it is realistic.
Teachers and cops, oh my
Yep. Every single time the subject of spending cuts is broached, here come the wails about how that will cause cuts in "essential services" --- teachers and cops will get fired!
What's up with that? Does anyone seriously believe the state budget doesn't have nonessential services that can be cut before the fearmongers start wailing about "firing teachers and cops"?
In your own home, when you need to save money, do you stop buying food before you stop going to the movies? Or stop buying gas for your car before you stop eating out so much? Please. How much longer are these blatantly ridiculous sob stories going to be given credence.
**** I propose the Governor set up a web site where the citizens of Virginia can propose state spending cuts. Let the people tell the pols what they are willing to do without! I bet the answers would be very interesting --- and probably much more "doable" than anything Richmond could come up with. ****
Oh, and don't forget: no matter how much Virginia raises taxes for THIS budget shortfall, it will NEVER cover the costs the federal government is about to force on us through Obamacare. Tried picking up the feds' portion of Medicaid latel
excatly, teachers dont teach
excatly, teachers dont teach anyway, dont believe me check out how we stand against other developed nations,we drop farther and farther behind.so instead of just giving them a raise how bout they show some improvement. obamacare? they say the cost of the 10 year program is about 870 billion bucks. what most people dont know is that the benefits wont start untill 4 years after the bill passes, but the tax increase starts right away,and yes everybodies taxes will go up.there aint enough rich people in this country to pay for everything,and you can rest assured that the 4 years of collecting taxes wont go into the fund to pay for the welfare care.. so for 6 years the cost is 870 billion bucks. what will the whole 10 years end up costing? what a country