More than a week after Virginia lawmakers officially adjourned without approving a new state budget, University officials, delegates and political analysts still are concerned about the precedent this action sets and the effect it will have on higher education institutions.
"This is a disaster for the entire state and bad news for all our institutions of higher education," said Larry J. Sabato, a professor of government and foreign affairs. "The General Assembly failed at their most basic duty to run the state in a managerially sound way."
The May 9 adjournment has left Virginia to operate on a previously approved budget, sans $400 million in program cuts ordered by Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R). The adjournment also preserves Gilmore's controversial 70 percent car-tax cut.
"There were a lot of very bad feelings coming out of this session, a lot of distrust between the governor and the representatives," said Del. Mitch Van Yahres (D-Charlottesville). "Everyone I'm talking to is very upset. This will be reflected in November's elections."
The adjournment also preserves the operating budget of higher education institutions, but it cuts $200 million in new capital funds that would have gone toward new statewide higher education building programs and teacher pay raises.
"Higher education is the governor's number one priority and always will be," Gilmore's assistant press secretary Yooree Oh said. "The governor was forced to make the decision [to cut the $200 million], he didn't want to. These projects aren't being written off, just delayed."
In the meantime, the University will continue to operate on its 2000 budget. This budget will not allow for salary increases and will freeze proposed capital projects, including the planned special collections library and studio arts building project. However, the new budget will not affect new faculty hiring, said Nancy A. Rivers, University director of state governmental relations.
University officials say the lack of pay raises has been the most significant and disappointing part of the new budget. Yet some officials remain hopeful of the possibility of a "caboose" bill, "which will essentially allow them to address raising salaries next session and take retroactive action," Rivers said.
Gilmore has provided an appeals process for the capital projects. University officials have filed an appeal but have not heard back from the governor's office yet. The University also has been trying to gain Gilmore's approval to use $132 million worth of University non-general fund projects, said Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget.
This money would come out of the University's non-general fund, which includes in part money raised by the recent Capital Campaign.
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