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Democratic nominee for governor in 1997. “It’s a matter of do you think short-term or long-term?”
In-state undergraduate students af state-supported colleges and universities will pay the same tuition for the next two years, and faculty member^ will receive pay increases averaging 6 to 7 percent during the two-year period. s
Of the more than $200 million for higher education, $175 million will Come from the Trigon Blue Crosd Blue Shield settlement. In addition, the stock gained by the state form thd insurer’s conversion to a profit-mak* ing company will be held in escrow by the Virginia Retirement System until the state determines the best way to set up a medical-research foundation.
Campuses across the state will • see construction of new buildings funded by $ 163, million in bonds ot debt financing, including $7.2 million' for buildings for the Warrenton campus of Lord Fairfax Community College.
Some lawmakers fear the state is becoming too dependent on borrowing money so they can look good . today and are risking the state’s AAA bond rating. Virginia is one of only five states obtaining the highest possible mark.
“Credit card buying in one biennium to pay it off in the next bienniun} is not prudent financing,” said Sen. John H. Chichester, R-Stafford, who co-chairs the Senate Finance Committee. “We’re tightening the strings tighter than they’ll go.”
In addition to education, thfe General Assembly joined the governor and two special commissions in placing emphasis on reforming the state’s juvenile justice system. The proposed budget calls for more than $140 million to help deal with the rising number of underage lawbreakersBipartisan
agreement also occurred on Gov. Allen’s economic development proposal. Lawmaker's approved a scaled-down version of the governor’s package designed to help create jobs and bring new industries to Virginia.
The assembly’s budget restored some major cuts in social services proposed by Gov. Allen. Democrats succeeded in putting $11 million back into the two-year budget for mental health services, including returning $7 million to the state’s community services boards. j *.
The governor has until April 8 to veto, approve or recommend changes in the budget, and considering Gov’; Allen’s line-item veto power, he like^ ly will make some changes'Afterward, he and the legislators will deal with the changes and other matters at the General Assembly’s reconvened session on April 17, known as the veto session.
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