Virginia State Budget (low income, real estate, house)

[Bob_George]

Looks like funding for education and healthcare will be reduced in the new VA budget, but at least both the House & Senate have agreed to keep the $950 million in the budget to provide relief on the local car tax

What do you think about the proposed VA state budget?

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by juanr

Looks like funding for education and healthcare will be reduced in the new VA budget, but at least both the House & Senate have agreed to keep the $950 million in the budget to provide relief on the local car tax

What do you think about the proposed VA state budget?

That last statement is BS. I looked up (political) spin in the dictionary, and it says "car tax relief"... Note to all VA residents: - The ENTIRE (100%) car tax was supposed to be a distant memory by now, but Gov Warner stopped the process. I can't believe how many VA citizens still buy that stuff!

Gov McDonnel has some tough decisions ahead. Hopefully he can keep the budget under control and address the real issues instead of partisan policies that don't accomplish anything. I'm cautiously optimistic

[Deeman804]

I can't lie the selfish part of me is rejoicing at McDonnell's decisions thus far. As for now, I am young and single so i guess it sucks for everyone else (low income, mental health recipients, and state employees) right now. No Car tax and no ABC store! I hope he cuts taxes next. It is pretty messed up though.

[mpascal]

Once again schools will be screwed.

[Caladium]

Don't expect taxes to go down. Schools, libraries, and parks will probably take hits (but I don't think the cuts will be as extreme as they're currently hinting). Sorry, but we might as well face reality. Reality doesn't always taste sweet.

This has been an unusually expensive year. People are moving here in droves and need schools and other services. Roads and structures damaged by the blizzard have to be repaired. So the reality is taxes are not going to go down. Any politician who says differently is just trying to influence an election--it's just words, it won't actually happen.

[FrannyBear]

Just like households who have less to spend -- the state government must find a way to make do with less. Look at the enormous mess in the federal government -- spend spend spend and saddle our country and our children with enormous debt for years to come.

The first place I would look to cut is the extremely generous retirmements of ALL state and pubic employees. The rest of the country DREAMS of that kind of retirement. That is why I do not have enormous sympathy for the crying about teachers salaries and government salaries -- the benefits and retirement packages more than make up the difference and are breaking the backs of the common citizen. They never talk about the benefits packages. Of all my friends in retirement -- the ones who are sitting best -- by far -- are the retired teachers and government workers. That says alot. The rest of us have to rely on 401K's and the wild swings of the marketplace so we will be working until we are 80.

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Don't expect taxes to go down. Schools, libraries, and parks will probably take hits (but I don't think the cuts will be as extreme as they're currently hinting). Sorry, but we might as well face reality. Reality doesn't always taste sweet.

This has been an unusually expensive year. People are moving here in droves and need schools and other services. Roads and structures damaged by the blizzard have to be repaired. So the reality is taxes are not going to go down. Any politician who says differently is just trying to influence an election--it's just words, it won't actually happen.

taxes rarely go down, but that doen't mean they should go up. You are correct about this being an expensive year. If we (VA) collect the fair share of taxes from all of these new residents then we will be ok. What doesn't work is to tax certain people and not others. All citizens need to be part of the solution. Gov McDonnell already re-opened the rest areas, and I think he will continue to make good decisions on our behalf.

As for McDonnell being good for the single people and not families... I don't see that being the case.

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by Deeman804

I can't lie the selfish part of me is rejoicing at McDonnell's decisions thus far. As for now, I am young and single so i guess it sucks for everyone else (low income, mental health recipients, and state employees) right now. No Car tax and no ABC store! I hope he cuts taxes next. It is pretty messed up though.

Dude, there is a car tax... Is McDonnell getting rid of it? What is your point?

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by FrannyBear

The first place I would look to cut is the extremely generous retirmements of ALL state and pubic employees. The rest of the country DREAMS of that kind of retirement. That is why I do not have enormous sympathy for the crying about teachers salaries and government salaries -- the benefits and retirement packages more than make up the difference and are breaking the backs of the common citizen. They never talk about the benefits packages. Of all my friends in retirement -- the ones who are sitting best -- by far -- are the retired teachers and government workers. That says alot. The rest of us have to rely on 401K's and the wild swings of the marketplace so we will be working until we are 80.

People choose to take less money and go work for state government in order to gain a little job security and decent retirement benefits.

This has ALWAYS been understood when comparing the public to the private sector. Now that private retirement plans and 401Ks are getting blasted, the private sector wants to turn it's anger toward those who chose the safer route with smaller paychecks and say it's "not fair"!!

Funny we didn't hear much of that during the real estate boom when private 401Ks were skyrocketing and pay in the private sector was dwarfing what teachers and other public workers make.... Only NOW is it "unfair"...

[Deeman804]

Originally Posted by Guamanians

Dude, there is a car tax... Is McDonnell getting rid of it? What is your point?

He is not going to repeal the car tax legislation (which is a major burden on the state) to fund VA's shortfalls. Also, you're right, there is a car tax but since VA pays 75% of it, its more like a quarter of a car tax. My point is that there are so many programs being cut to save money as opposed to raising the car tax from the amount we pay now. I have no qualms about it, but let's be realistic, we are screwing over the school systems in the process. I'm not MSNBC or Fox news (biased), I'm just expressing my opinion of the state budget cuts as the OP asked.