Gov. Mark R. Warner announced Monday that he will not cut state funding to Virginia's K-12 public schools in the budget he will unveil to the General Assembly on Dec. 20.
"I am pleased to report that the budget I will present to the General Assembly later this month will not cut direct aid to Virginia's public school classrooms, and that is good news for every child in Virginia," Warner said in a speech to state agency heads yesterday.
"This has not been easy, but it's the right thing to do," he added. "If the General Assembly returns a budget that cuts direct aid to the classroom, I will not sign it."
Warner initially issued his remarks on the issue in a private speech to the Coalition for Virginia's Future, a group comprised of business leaders, in the Rotunda Dome Room on Monday.
"He thinks K-12 education is at the heart of everything he is trying to do for Virginia," Warner spokeswoman Ellen Qualls said.
The annual state funding issued to Virginia public schools totals $4.6 billion as a part of Virginia's annual budget of approximately $25 billion, Qualls said.
Warner will, however, closely examine other programs funded by state government that provide assistance to public school students and evaluate their necessity. Some of these programs target drop out prevention in high schools and at-risk 4-year-olds.
Warner "is going to make those programs show they are working to receive continued funding," Qualls said. "He wants to make sure they are proving their value."
She declined to comment on what other government services would have to bear the burden of greater budget cuts.
"If you realize there is a finite amount of money
then yes, it's going to hurt when you have to take $6 billion out of a state budget," she said.
At the local level, Charlottesville City schools already had been bracing for cuts in funding.
"I'm elated he's made that announcement, but I'm skeptical to see what happens," said Linda Bowen, chairwoman of the Charlottesville City School Board.
Bowen said she is waiting to see the entirety of Warner's budget before trusting that public schools will be spared from drastic budget cuts.
"If we have a 5 percent cut, we can probably absorb it in the existing reserve fund," she said. "Anything above that, we will have to take a hard look at programs and personnel.
Charlottesville City schools participate in some of the supplementary education programs that Warner plans to reevaluate, such as the program for at-risk 4-year-olds.
"Any programs that would take away from classroom instruction or at-risk students would not be on the chopping block for me," Bowen said, speaking for herself and not on behalf of the School Board.
Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, responded to Warner's announcement.
"I think clearly that's a decision the governor has to make," Sheehy said.
It is uncertain how the University and other state higher education institutions will be affected until Warner discloses his budget.
"The implication of what he's announced is what he has to cut from other state agencies to balance the budget," Sheehy said.
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