State Senator Petersen on the State Budget

FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR PATERSEN

January 22, 2010

CONTACT: Julia Kim
804-698-7534

Richmond, Virginia - February 22, 2010 - On Sunday, the Virginia State Senate announced its recommendations, which focuses on sustaining K-12 education, for the Commonwealth's biennial budget.

The substantial portion of the Senate's budget that focuses on public education restores $315 million to K-12 education from Governor McDonnell's proposed budget, and reverses the former administration's Local Composite Index freeze that would have shorted northern Virginia schools out of over $144 million annually.

Fairfax County schools would have lost over $60 million in state funds annually had the "LCI freeze," a controversial issue that used obsolete data to determine localities' public school funding, not been reversed. The Senate's budget adds $56 million to Fairfax County schools in 2011.

"Considering the state of the economy, this is a remarkable achievement and I'm proud of our Fairfax legislators for making it happen," said Petersen.

These strides in appropriating funds to education come at the cost of some new state fees and revenue increases, which include a reduction of payments to the Virginia Retirement System over the next two years.

This reduction affects state employees hired after July 1, 2010.

Petersen acknowledges the Senate budget proposal's shortcomings such as those to Medicaid eligibility and some community services, but adds that these cutbacks could be restored as early as fiscal year 2012 with the strengthening economy.

This year's budget proposal was reached through what Petersen calls "an open and transparent process" which allowed all members, Republican and Democratic, to participate. Senate subcommittee members approved the budget (14-1), which will be reconciled with the House of Delegate's budget in the next few days before its final presentation to Governor McDonnell.

Senator Chap Petersen represents Virginia's 34th State Senate district, which includes Fairfax City and much of Fairfax County.

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