Gov. Bob McDonnell is urging lawmakers to restore a $7.5 million annual state contribution to help Virginia Beach buy properties around Oceana Air Station.

The money, matched by Virginia Beach, formed a $15 million state and local commitment to acquire private properties near Oceana and thwart a 2005 federal recommendation to close the jet base because of surrounding over development.

The state Senate, seeking to save money, last week passed a two-year budget that would eliminate Virginia’s contribution. Under the House spending plan, the state would pay its share the first year, but not the second.

McDonnell, who represented Virginia Beach in the House for 14 years, has personally urged House and Senate budget negotiators to fully fund the program both years.

“The Governor knows the significant and positive economic impact that Naval Air Station Oceana has on Virginia’s economy,” said Tucker Martin, McDonnell’s communications director. “ Over 10,000 jobs and $1 billion in economic activity is directly tied to the base, and thousands of other jobs, and critical economic activity, is indirectly tied to the presence of the facility. The appropriation of state funds to ensure that the base remains in the Commonwealth is a smart use of limited resources.”

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