The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
Calling $40 million in proposed cuts in state aid to the city schools "catastrophic," Mayor Paul Fraim said Friday he has asked City Manager Regina V.K. Williams to compensate as much as possible by increasing city aid to the public schools.
Williams had asked the school system to take a $3 million reduction in city funding. Combined with the reduction in state aid and increased costs in health insurance, school division officials say they are facing a $61 million shortfall.
Speaking at the annual State of the City address, Fraim called upon Williams to restore the $3 million and, if possible, to find millions more for the schools. He said the city "will do everything possible to increase our funding for the schools. We are duty-bound to do the right thing for our children."
Fraim was especially critical of Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposal to reduce funding for the school breakfast program for low-income students, calling the cuts "unacceptable."
Councilwoman Daun S. Hester, who is challenging Fraim in the May 4 election, said his proposal "is a great gesture. But we're going have to look at the entire budget and all of its needs. We'll have to see what we can push back and what we can't."
Williams declined comment. She has told the City Council that because of declining tax revenue and state aid, the city faces a $36 million deficit in the budget that begins July 1 without pay raises or new programs.
Fraim acknowledged the city's budget troubles, "Virginia and her counties and cities seem well on the way to the smaller government some have wanted for so long. However, it will be a less compassionate government and a weaker force for the good in the lives of our people."
Fraim also said he will ask the council to fund the renovation and/or construction of five schools in the next six years. School officials have said most school buildings either need to be replaced or renovated.
Fraim acknowledged it will be difficult to find the money in tough economic times. "We're going to ask the community what the school system means to them," he said. "If the will is there, I'm sure we'll find a way."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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donr
Government spending needs to be drastically cut. Public school funding is no exception...it is grossly overfunded. The gravy train has to stop. Politicians need to stop pandering to the public school lobby and tell the citizenry the truth. Parochial school tuition is as low as $3,000 per year while taxpayers fund public schools at the rate of $11,600 per year. Duh, whats up with that? The public school business model needs to be re-engineered and parents need choice. Give the parents a tax credit and watch them vote with their feet.
Where will the come from
Where will the millions to close the school's budget gap come from? The city acknowledges that they will have less to spend this year than last, and the state is cutting funding, therefore services from other city departments will have to be cut. The state is already, by their actions, saying that k-12 education is not a priority with them as well as care for those in poverty. Do we cut the police? fire? Social Services? Libraries? Public Transportation? Courts? the Jail? It's easy to say "schools need more money" but the devil is in the details. Mayor Fraim is not stating where he would support those funds coming from, in an election year.
Another Fraim-ism
"Fraim acknowledged the city's budget troubles, "Virginia and her counties and cities seem well on the way to the smaller government some have wanted for so long. However, it will be a less compassionate government and a weaker force for the good in the lives of our people."
No he didn't acknowledge the city's budget woes as Harry writes.
Fraim is laying the blame for Norfolk debt and deficits on the commonwealth, not the spending HE voted for that has pushed us into the fiscal abyss.
So, my Mayor spends my tax dollars leaving me and my fellow citizens in debt and deficits for years to come and then blames the new Governor for it. Political doublespeak is the nice term I'll use.
How about taking responsibility for your own spending actions Mr. Mayor that is causing the financial ruination of Norfolk. Yes, accountability.
Harry, I appreciate your attempts at finding out the story. But it's becoming clearer that you are not asking followup questions to our elected officials assertions.
Oh, and thanks for hiding yet another Norfolk political story away from the main webpage. It's becoming a regular hide and seek website editor. I'm sure there is a reason for it