Warren Fiske
Feb 17, 2010
Public schools in Hampton Roads are bracing for at least a $235.2 million cut in state funding during the coming year. While just about all school systems in the state except those in Northern Virginia are expecting substantial reductions, Hampton Roads will be among the hardest hit.
The region would lose 15.5 percent of its state support if Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget proposals are adopted by the General Assembly, according to an analysis of figures provided by the Virginia Education Association. The average school district in Virginia would lose 9.3 percent. Those in metropolitan Richmond would take an average 13.4 percent hit.
McDonnell, a Republican, announced today he is seeking $730 million in education cuts over the next two years to help balance a $2.1 billion budget shortfall without raising taxes. That would come on top of sizeable slashes recommended in December by then-Gov. Tim Kaine. Educators warn the reductions would force the layoffs of thousands of teachers and increase class sizes. They seem somewhat resigned those outcomes.
“I wish I had more hope,” said Robley Jones, a VEA lobbyist. “But we’re hearing from the (Democratic-controlled) Senate, `Why go forward with anything if the (Republican-controlled) House won’t go along with it and the Governor would veto it anyway.”
Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton, said: “No question it’s going to happen. I don’t want to cut education but what are you going to do? Raise taxes? I don’t think so. Not when people are losing their jobs and losing their houses.”
Here’s what each Hampton Roads school district stands to lose in state funding for the budget year starting July 1: Virginia Beach, $59.5 million; Norfolk, $33.7 million; Chesapeake, $33.6 million; Newport News, $27.3 million; Hampton, $21.4 million; Portsmouth, $16.2 million; Suffolk, $13.1 million; York County, $8.4 million; James City County, $5.4 million; Gloucester County, $5 million; Isle of Wight County, $4 million; Southampton County, $2.7 million; Poquoson, $2.2 million; Franklin, $1.6 million; Surry County, $900,000; Williamsburg, $400,000.
Time to do more with less, schools. The economy is in the dump. Everybody’s losing. Schools have to take their share of the load. If you’d made the cuts you should have made last year instead of putting off the pain with the stimulus money, this wouldn’t hurt so much. But you leaned on government instead of making the tough choices. Now you’re paying the price.
Feb. 19, 2010 at 05:02 PM
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