Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 1 · column 1 of 3 · from the scan, no model involved
By Meredith Gorfein Rappahannock News Writer “Everyone is worried.” Bob Anderson, member of the Board of Supervisors representing StonewallHawthorne, could have been speaking for all of the supervisors and all members of the school board and all of the state agencies which serve Rappahannock. Helen Williams,- interim Superintendent of Schools, said, “of course we’re worried.” She said it didn’t sound like there would be cuts in this year’s school budget, which is set. The cutting would be next year’s problems — the 2003- 2004 bienniem. “Local governments, local citizenry are certainly going to feel the pain,” stated Senate Finance Committee Chairman John H. Chichester (R-Stafford). The growing deficit in Virginia has Governor Mark Warner and leaders of both political parties in the General Assembly talking about very visible cuts in services. Seven months ago in January the new Governor and the General Assembly began working to close the $3.8 billion budget shortfall (insufficient revenue to pay for spending commitments). They were able to balance the budget with cuts of seven and eight percent on state agencies and programs, the elimination of 3,000 state employees, tuition increases on students attending our state colleges and universities — just to name three of the hundreds of areas. The revenues have continued to decline. Three weeks ago Governor Warner announced an additional $1.5 billion shortfall in revenues. That amounts to “a budget problem equal to $750 for each and every resident of Virginia — a total Of $5.3 billion dollars.” More cuts have been announced. Across the board reductions in spending will be required — even in programs traditionally considered off the table. By Sept. 20 all state agencies will submit plans for reducing their budgets further by seven percent, 11 percent and 15 percent. The Governor acknowledged that these reductions will have “clear impacts and consequences on citizens, local governments, agencies and employees.” How is Rappahannock affected? There are many people in Rappahannock who are employed by the state or who work in offices which are funded in part by the state. These offices and people provide services to citizens of Rappahannock; those services will certainty be cut unless other sources of revenue are found. All five of our elected constitutional officers and their offices will
94.4%