It is budget time. Over the next few months we will be adjusting our budget to meet the shortfalls passed down by the state government. The school board has already projected its budget based on the Governor’s proposal. We are all hoping that his proposed budget and the actual look dramatically different.
One of the biggest concerns that our residents have been expressing is about the cuts to our school system. Our board has now pledged an additional $3 million dollars to our schools.
I have written a letter to the editor in support of our schools. Unfortunately, it is limited to 350 words but if you would like I can go in much more depth on the topic:
“One of the interesting things I have learned since joining the Board of Supervisors is that critical information is often left out of public discussion. Specifically, little is being said as to why Virginia’s schools are under such budget pressure despite a rise in state revenues. As is often the case the problem is not so much economics as it is politics.
This year the state is requiring a huge in increase in Virginia Retirement System (VRS) contributions. At the beginning of the last decade VRS had a budget surplus. Since then, with declining stock markets and continuous borrowing by our state government, the pension plan is now short by approximately $20 billion. Then last year, our state legislators voted to borrow $620 million from the underfunded retirement plan. At the end of that fiscal year these same officials celebrated a “surplus” of $545 million dollars. Rather than restoring this “surplus” to the pension plan it was redistributed as if it were simply “found money”.
This year, the same elected officials, are now legislating an “obligation” to bolster the plan they depleted. The legislation requires local governments to increase VRS contributions by an additional $1 billion over the next two years. Typically, there are no restrictions that the $1 billion cannot be borrowed once more in the future.
The funding of our schools begins with the state’s budget. It is critical for our schools that we let our state elected officials know that we do not approve of the excessive VRS increase now being considered. So far, our local media has given our elected state senators and congressional representatives a free pass on this question but we cannot. The budget is not set in stone and is still being debated. I hope that all who want to protect school funding will contact their state legislators and ask them to revisit this untimely jump in VRS contributions.
Once the state budget is solidified I believe we will be able to address our local education needs and ensure that our residents are comfortable with county stewardship.
Marshall Pattie
Augusta County Board of Supervisor – North River”
