Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Wednesday announced vast cuts to K-12 education, health care, and employee pay and benefits, heaping on top of already painful budget reductions proposed by his predecessor.
McDonnell’s plan to close the last $2.2 billion of a more than $4 billion two-year shortfall comes just days before the legislature’s money committees produce their own spending blueprints.
The plan would, among a host of other cuts, pull state dollars for school breakfasts, coaches and mentoring programs; reduce capacity at mental health facilities; end funding for several social programs; and furlough state employees for five days each of the next two years. The budget includes no tax increases.
“I recognize that these cuts will have a measurable impact on our people,” McDonnell wrote in a letter Wednesday to top appropriators in the House and Senate. “But as families and businesses cut and struggle through the economic downturn, so too must state government.”
» Closing five state parks
» Reducing funds for child and adult dental programs
» Eliminate funding for teen pregnancy programs
» Remove proposed increase for inmate medical costs
» Pull funding for homelessness programs
In all, the governor is proposing to pull $731 million from K-12 education, $316 million from health care and $786 million in state contributions to employee retirement plans and benefits. The furloughs would save $180 million.
The rollout touches off what no doubt will be the defining conflict of the 2010 legislative session. Lawmakers, especially in the Democrat-majority Senate, will offer differing visions for bringing state spending in the black that must be reconciled by the end of the session.
“It is ironic that today is Ash Wednesday, and this is what the governor is asking Virginians to give up,” said Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico. “And at the same time, the governor asks us to do this at the expense of thousands of schoolteachers and thousands of health care providers.”
McDonnell proposed to reverse some of former Gov. Tim Kaine’s budget plan, restoring $60 million to public safety. Kaine also wanted to eliminate $950 million in annual car tax relief to local governments and replace it with an income tax. McDonnell’s plan retains the car tax subsidy.
