Local governments aren’t likely to escape the pain when the General Assembly attempts to eliminate an estimated $3.5 billion hole in the next two-year budget. That estimate does not include the losses faced by local school districts to replace federal stimulus money that will dwindle next year and then disappear entirely in the second year of the budget.

Virginia transportation officials say they will have to slice $851.5 million out of Virginia’s six-year transportation plan, which has already been hit with $3.7 billion in cuts since the spring of 2008. However, the reduction announced yesterday amounts to a slight improvement over the state’s August revenue estimates. Virginia will get something more than $31 million in additional funds for transportation than was forecast.

In a meeting yesterday with the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s editorial board, Kaine voiced concerns that lawmakers confronted with the tough budget he’s crafting for the next two fiscal years will shrink from some of the sacrifices it will require to keep the state fiscally sound in a tough economy.

Loss of $300 million would be in addition to $1.3 billion revenue shortage predicted in August, state legislators were told.

Virginia officials looking for cash to balance the state budget should consider delaying or junking some tax breaks, according to an economic think tank whose study was knocked down by Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell. The Commonwealth Institute said yesterday that the state gives up $2.5 billion a year as tax cuts and credits, some of which may no longer be justified. The institute is the research arm of the Virginia Interfaith Center, whose Web site says it works to create “progressive public policy.“

Nov. 5, Meadowdale Library, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, Elizabeth Davis Middle School, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 6, Chester Baptist Church, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 16, Clover Hill High School, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 17, Salem Middle School, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 19, Manchester High School, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

How Chesterfield County and its schools will cope with a projected $60 million shortfall in the next fiscal year is at focus in a series of public meetings. Bracing for a difficult budget process come January, leaders are sharing the numbers they are seeing and soliciting public input on spending priorities. The next meeting is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at Matoaca Middle School-East.

Virginia’s revenue picture continues to darken, dropping 7.5 percent last month—just as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine started pruning state spending an additional $1.2 billion because of the continuing cash squeeze. Secretary of Finance Richard D. “Ric” Brown told the House Appropriations Committee yesterday that nearly all major sources of tax revenue fell in September from the same month a year ago.

Chesterfield County is projecting a $4 million pinch on its current fiscal year’s budget because of state cuts. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine last month announced a fiscal 2010 budget-reduction plan that will mean about $1.5 billion worth of cuts in state spending. As a result, Chesterfield officials expect to see at least $3.85 million less than expected from the state for the county’s $716 million general fund.

When is the best time to come up with an ingenious idea? Apparently in the middle of the night. Around 3:30 one summer morning in 2007, Mark Di Vincenzo’s wife, Jayne, woke up and began scribbling down a book proposal for her husband. The idea was for a guide on the best time to buy this, do that and go there.

Mark Di Vincenzo talked to hundreds of experts while researching his book “Buy Ketchup In May and Fly At Noon.“ Among other things, he found out the best time of day to buy shoes, the best month to look for a job and the best day of the week to get a vasectomy. Here are some tips from the book:

Chesterfield: $3,878,207
  Henrico: $2,845,348
  Richmond: $1,164,140
  Hanover: $1,108,848
  Petersburg: $341,147
  Hopewell: $307,365
  Powhatan: $282,608
  Colonial Heights: $161,888
  Goochland: $51,512

Chesterfield County schools face a potential gap in next year’s budget of about $25 million, including almost $4 million in federal stimulus money that Virginia plans to use for its own budget shortfall. For the current school year, school officials used about $20 million in stimulus money to save 275 jobs. Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome addressed the budget outlook yesterday in a message to school division employees. Citing declining state and local revenues, he projected a shortfall of $20 million to $30 million for the fiscal 2011 budget that will take effect July 1.

This time last year, Hanover County school officials knew they’d be in for a tough budget season; ultimately, they cut $15 million from their bottom line. Some of that was later restored with federal stimulus money, but Superintendent Stewart D. Roberson warned recently that $15 million could be just the starting point for another round of cuts for the 2010-11 budget.

The state is giving tax delayers and tax avoiders a chance to pay up without penalty. The state is even putting a smiley face—literally—on a tax amnesty program that it hopes will add $41 million to its cash-strapped coffers. Previous amnesty programs in 1991 and 2003 were threatening, state Tax Commissioner Janie E. Bowen told members of the House Appropriations Committee yesterday.