When the General Assembly’s appropriations committees release its spending proposals Sunday, the packages will contain verdicts of hundreds of budget amendments legislators have submitted.
The 140 legislators have requested more than $3 billion in spending this year, but only $200 million to $400 million in surplus funds are available for the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees to allocate (the exact amount depends on how much is used for transportation).
Though Northern Virginia legislators have spent much of the session pushing for extra transportation funds, they haven’t overlooked suggesting spending for other priorities. Many of the legislators’ requests would aid nonprofit groups.
“It has been the policy of the state for a long time that we should help these nonstate agencies,” said Del. Vincent Callahan, R-McLean, who chairs the Appropriations Committee.
Callahan introduced more than $140 million worth of budget amendments, but as chairman of the committee, he receives more requests from groups seeking funding than other lawmakers do.
Callahan’s largest request is a $112 million proposal to increase funding for public colleges and universities. He also has asked for $1.75 million for the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Vienna and $100,000 for improvements to the Cold War Museum in Fairfax.
“Some people say these projects are nothing but pork, but they are not pork,” Callahan said. “They are important to every legislator and have to meet certain criteria and have matching funds. Take Wolf Trap as an example. That money is not to pay an opera singer. It is for arts programs that will help children statewide.”
Del. Kristen Amundson, D-Fairfax, for example, wants the state to give $75,000 to the Woodlawn National Trust for Historic Preservation, which operates a museum on the site of the Woodlawn Plantation, which was part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. The state’s contribution, Amundson said, will be matched with private money and is needed to keep the 120-acre site open to the public.
Del. Philip Caputo, D-Chantilly, is among the numerous lawmakers seeking to help service organizations. He is asking $225,000 be allocated to Best Buddies International, which helps those with mental disabilities. “They do great work,” he said.
