Va. cuts detailed

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s $1.35 billion budget reduction plan for the current fiscal year announced Tuesday will mean 929 layoffs and frozen state jobs, a one-day furlough for state employees and a net cut to higher education of almost 8 percent.

Kaine said in announcing his plan that “we remain in the midst of the toughest economy in a generation. But we also remain confident that Virginia will weather the storm and emerge stronger than ever before.”

The ripple effect of the cuts to the Shenandoah Valley mean layoffs at local state facilities such as the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center and Frontier Culture Museum, a cut in direct aid to municipal governments of $45 million and as much as a 15-percent cut for the commissioner of revenue offices across Virginia.

State money for treasurers offices will be cut 10 percent, and sheriff’s offices 4.7 percent.

While Kaine said he mostly shielded K-12 education, local superintendents say they are still gauging the impact of the governor’s plan.

A cut of more than $30 million in revenue from sales tax to school districts “will be felt right away. That is money that just won’t come to us,’’ said Augusta County Superintendent Gary McQuain.

McQuain said a proposal to take millions now in the general fund and have that revenue come from lottery proceeds also could have an impact.

“That is using the lottery to assume people will gamble more,’’ he said.

Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue Jean Shrewsbury said the loss of state money for her office could result in the layoffs of two of her 12 employees.

She said the governor’s announcement of 929 lost state positions, including 593 layoffs,  “is the tip of the iceberg. That number does not count the positions cut by localities because of a loss in funding.”

Among area state agencies, the Frontier Culture Museum is targeted to lose $150,000 in state money, triggering as many as three layoffs.

Museum Director John Avoli said the museum would look at strategies to avoid layoffs.

He said the museum has gone from 77 employees to 33 since 2001, with volunteers helping with tours and maintenance.

The governor’s reduction plan also calls for the elimination of 13 salaried and two hourly positions at Fishersville’s Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, a reduction of almost $900,000 in state money.

Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey said layoffs at Wilson Rehabilitation and other facilities would happen over time but would start almost immediately.

Local governments also were reacting to the loss of $45 million in state money.

“We’ll have to do something. We can’t keep providing the same level of services we’ve been providing,’’ Staunton City Manager Steve Owen said. “This is a further erosion of the state’s commitment to the partnership we have had.”

Owen said a $13.7 million funding reduction to local law enforcement would be tough in Staunton, which already is down in the staffing of officers.

Augusta County Administrator Pat Coffield said his office and those of other Virginia counties are working with the Virginia Association of Counties to determine the impact of cuts.

Coffield said there is no local money to offset the state cuts, which will require a prioritizing of programs and services by the Augusta County Board of Supervisors.

Community service boards such as the area’s Valley Community Services Board will see a 5 percent cut in funding.

Valley CSB Executive Director Don Lewis said his agency had prepared for the cut by freezing positions.

“The staff we have are working harder but they were already overworked,’’ he said. “I am pleased it is not more than 5 percent.”

While it was not an uplifting day, Kaine said there are positives: taxes will not increase, and there will be no added debt.

Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell credited Kaine for not raising taxes in a recession.

“I am encouraged that Gov. Kaine today has rejected the misguided call of some to raise taxes,’’ Howell said. “In the midst of this economic recession, increasing the financial burden already being borne by Virginia families and businesses through higher taxes would only serve to prolong an economic turnaround and weaken any recovery.”