Richmond Regional Planning District Commission voted today to oppose Gov. Bob McDonnell's plan to update the index that determines how much state money each school system receives.
The commission urged the General Assembly to freeze the composite index until the equity of the formula can be examined and the state can come up with a plan for fully funding its share of the education costs. In the budget introduced by former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, he proposed freezing the composite index and putting off the readjustment for a year.
Dorothy A. Jaeckle, a commissioner representing Chesterfield County, and Robert R. Setliff, who represents Hanover, opposed the measure. Richard W. Glover of Henrico abstained.
Richmond and Chesterfield County would be hit the hardest in the metro area if the index were updated. Facing more than a $13 million shortfall already, Richmond would add $11 million in lost state revenue. Chesterfield would lose an additional $3.4 million in state funds.
City officials today expressed their concern about McDonnell's proposal.
"It's unrealistic for anyone to think that we can afford to cut this much money from schools," Mayor Dwight Jones said in a news release. "If we had to replace cuts to public education alone, potentially totaling some $25 million so far, we would need to raise the real estate tax 12 and one-half cents. That is something we cannot do to our residents."
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