Kaine tells agency heads to seek further spending cuts
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has instructed heads of state agencies to seek ways to further reduce spending, given financial estimates that show state revenues have dipped below revised budget projections.
Kaine, speaking to reporters at the state Capitol, said April revenues would fall below estimates.
He said current economic trends are likely to leave the state up to $225 million short of revenue needed to balance Virginia's budget through the end of fiscal 2009, which ends June 30.
The governor said there is still an $160 million in unallocated funds for fiscal 2010 that could be applied to the new shortfall, mitigating the new cuts.
"We're telling them that they need to be austere," Kaine said.
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For state employees, iirc, there was a 2% raise for this past fall and a 2% raise this summer.
Both were cut I think.
1,500 jobs were cut back in October. About 500 vacancies closed, 500 people laid off (alot in corrections), and another 500 future positions cancelled. I don’t feel like googling it all right now. But that is close to what it was.
And VDOT has taken a hit already as well after that. They are losing 1000-1500 positions themselves.
I guess State employees can give up their raises this year or did they already do that? Or how about an across the board pay cut with a promise to implement “pay for performance” when things get better. But wait, what happened to “pay for performance” when times were good? I guess State employees are just plain stupid to listen to this malarky, just like the rest of its citizenry?
man…you guys will argue about anything….dems/republicans…whatever..lol…
good for Kaine - the “higher education” is where the cuts could come in BIG WAYS…vcu, uva, odu…all have some many “buckets” of cash…overpaid faculty/staff…there’s your budget balancer…
the state HAD to do something about the tech…so many agencies doing so many different things all at the same time…may have growing pains..but…if you work for the state…then deal with it b/c you have one of the “easiest” and “most secure” jobs out there…cry if you want…all the way to the bank
Guesswho, you are, like me, wasting your time on trying to show that VITA/NG is part of the problem.. They have just pulled the state voicemail program from Optimail and given it to some other company so they can rape the state agencies more for every voice mail box being used. This agency/contract is one of the major reasons the state is going broke. Their fees are upwards to 30% of some agency’s budget but no on weems to care. I still believe the AG’s offic eis remiss in its duties by nor investigating this agency for waste and abuse of the IT infrastructure of this state.
“I hate Bush/Cheney as much as anyone else with half a brain”
Well at least we know the requirement.
“...you really do not have a clue about budgets and how government works. But admitting the cause of the problem is the first step.“
You mean such causes as the Democrats being in control the last 2 years of the Bush administration? You mean such causes as the Democrat pushed housing plan that encouraged (read required) finance firms to approve persons with insufficient income?
How much of a cut did the governor and the members of the legislature take?
Way too many contractors, VITA absorbs agencies budgets! When will they get it? Too much emphasis on VITA and NG and none on the core agencies needs.
VCUalum: Why do guys like you love the word ‘hate’ so much? Don’t you realize it speaks volumes about what’s going on your WHOLE brain? Virginia is not traditionally in any fiscal trouble since we have a balanced budget amendment that Kaine and his buds fantasize over revoking. Instead, our Constitution forces him to be responsible which in his case is less than probable, so he’s left to be what he is - a political hack.
I hate Bush/Cheney as much as anyone else with half a brain, but aren’t states traditionally in some sort of fiscal trouble?
And how do you blame Florida’s troubles on W Bush? Wasn’t that the problem of localities speculating on future tax bases for condos that would never come through?
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