Va. budget shortfall now at $1.5B

RICHMOND, Va. - "Caps hurt kids! Caps hurt kids! Caps hurt kids," could be heard across Thomas Jefferson's Capitol grounds in Richmond.

100 members supporting the Virginia Education Association carried signs and chanted for legislators to leave K-12 education alone in the budget cut process.

That is unlikely says Governor Tim Kaine who told the General Assembly money committees need to find $1.5 billion in budget shortfalls.

Cutting support service workers could save some of the $376 million and 14,000 positions budgeted for support positions like bus drivers, janitors, some security, and teacher's assistants.

Barbara Powell, who is a teacher's assistant at Hermitage Elementary in Virginia Beach, said, "They are going after us. Yes, I believe that."

Powell has good reason to believe that because last year Governor Kaine wanted to cut support service, but the General Assembly put the money back in, "It really isn't a sacred cow anymore...everything is on the table...we need to find $1.5 billion, and we need to look everywhere to find it," Governor Kaine told reporters after his presentation to the committees.

What the Governor is proposing sends chills down the spines of public educators. "It will be very difficult for public schools to do what they have to do to hold onto these positions without state support," said Gail Pittman, who is an VEA official in Portsmouth.

Newport News Republican Delegate Phil Hamilton sits on the Education and Appropriations Committees and is looking for options. "Maybe we need to look at textbooks. They are outdated as soon as they are published. If we delay purchasing the textbooks we could save $80 million."

State Senator Ken Stolle, a Republican from Virginia Beach, is more grim. "We will have cuts across the board...public safety, mental health, education, social services, child support enforcement...you name it there will be a reduction in services," he said.

Governor Kaine will make his cut proposals around Labor Day, and the full General Assembly will take up the proposed cuts in January when the full General Assembly reconvenes.