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Our View
Impasse ahead?
Local governments must face the
realities of reduced state funding
It happened sooner than we expected it would, but
given the worsening financial condition of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, Governor Mark Earley’s brief honeymoon with the state legislature is over.
The governor and the legislature knew going into the 2002-2004 budget planning that there wouldn’t be enough money for all of the things that are needed, or have been promised.
Even the House of Delegates and the Senate remain far apart, and with the growing dispute between Gov. Warner and House Speaker Vance Wilkins (R-24th> over education funding, it is likely that this year’s budget will run into the same impasse as last year. All that will do is slow down the inevitable.
It is obvious that we can expect cuts in state funding and reduced services this year. The question is where, and how deep.
By their nature, Rappahannock County citizens are self-reliant, and given the fact that we aren’t counting on any critical highway projects to be built or any large social programs here, we should be okay. Especially since we have so many people who generously volunteer in many ways to help their neighbors.
Where we will feel the pinch is where the state contributes make up part of the salaries of local government employees — our Sheriff’s Office personnel and public school teachers, in particular. #
Although it is likely that a lot of other spending cuts will be made before it reaches this level, we need to be sure that those who protect us and educate our children do not suffer the brunt of the expected cutbacks.
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