March 13, 2011

This op/ed originally appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch

The budget, proposed by the governor, and revised, amended and approved by the General Assembly, frequently seems like an arcane process with incomprehensible large numbers, accompanied by the usual partisan squabbling. In other words, all too often, it seems impossible to know what is happening, let alone what the real impacts of the budgetary decisions are. This General Assembly Session, where the House of Delegates and the State Senate had very different proposals, was only the most recent example of this phenomenon. As each side fought for their priorities, I believe that most Virginians had no idea what was actually at stake and what the impact of the various decisions would be.

For the first time in several years, the state had a modest revenue increase. This allowed the legislature to not make additional draconian cuts, and even to augment certain areas. Nevertheless, while perhaps less heartwrenching, what to do with the additional income was one of the sources of strife. The initial proposals from the Republican controlled House and the Democratic majority Senate were very different. The House focused on increased funding cuts and for helping business by ending the accelerated sales tax for most retailers. The Senate, on the other hand, wanted to use the increased revenue to restore resources to K-12 education, public safety needs and healthcare.

Compromise created the final product, improving it because of the input from both sides. By forcing both the House and Senate to work together to craft a final budget, priorities were reviewed and reassessed, forming a budget that took the best from both drafts. The budget that was approved unanimously at the end of the General Assembly Session restores some funding from the massive cuts that were made to public education and helps to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly, the poor, children and those who are sick or disabled, receive some necessary services. At the same time, the budget puts millions into the “rainy day” fund, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and foresight and returns funds that were borrowed during the recent difficult years to the pension fund.

Specifically, how do these decisions impact Virginia families and where will most of us see the differences? Although the House had recommend decreasing funding for education, the final version, with the Senate having taken a strong stand, adds significant funds to the public school system. These funds, desperately needed by public schools and the localities that help fund them, can help keep teachers in classrooms so the student-teacher ratio does not need to increase. The resources will help schools purchase needed materials, including technology. Finally, they can help make sure that specific programs, like drop-out prevention are funded. The strength and vitality of our public schools matter to all of us, whether or not we have students in them. A well-educated society will create a strong and skilled workforce, allowing the Commonwealth to continue to excel and to be “the best place for business.” When youth drop out of school and don’t receive the skills and education they need to succeed, they not only cannot contribute their fair share, eventually they become a burden to all of us. Keeping kids in school and ensuring they graduate with real skills makes sense for everyone.

As part of our drive to have Virginians excel and to have our Commonwealth be a leader, the final budget augments the funding for higher education. This funding includes more resources for workforce development programs at Virginia’s community colleges, additional dollars to help students transfer from community college to a four year school and more funding for the Virginia Military Survivor and Dependents Program.

However, some of the monies going to higher education have a double impact by increasing funding for cancer research at both UVA and VCU. Investments such as these provide opportunities for students, but also can have a significant impact on health care as new discoveries help us to eliminate this scourge.

The budget contains other small, but necessary, assists for healthcare. It restores some money to Medicaid providers, ensuring that those citizens on Medicaid will have access to health care. Without this small boost in dollars, many providers would have not been able to serve Medicaid patients, creating a public health crisis that, in the long run, would have cost Virginians even more. The budget also provides desperately needed resources for the Behavioral Health and Developmental Service Trust Fund.

Finally, this budget adds resources to localities to pay police officers to ensure public safety in our communities while also augmenting funding for juvenile diversion programs and crime control plans.

By working together, the General Assembly created a fiscally responsible budget that addresses core services and needs while still putting dollars away in case of a fiscal crisis and accomplishing all these important goals without raising taxes on Virginians. Sometimes, in the long hours of heated debate, filled with hyperbole and rhetoric, it becomes difficult to see solutions. However, we, as Virginians, can be proud of this final document and know that, after all the exaggerated verbiage, the General Assembly made reasonable choices and priorities that will benefit the Commonwealth for a long time.