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VEA Supports Locke Tax Plan to Counter Cuts to Schools

With Virginia public schools facing the most draconian funding cuts in more than a generation, VEA Monday threw its support behind a $1.3-billion tax package proposed by state Senator Mamie Locke.

Senator Locke, a Hampton Democrat, proposed the Keep the Promise to Virginia's Children Act in a news conference at the capitol. The package would raise approximately $1.3 billion over a two-year period to restore education cuts proposed by former Governor Tim Kaine.

"I think the state can do better by our children," Senator Locke said. "I stand up because I know that a system of high-quality public education is the most important ingredient in our economic development and future economic prosperity," she said.

Kitty Boitnott, president of the Virginia Education Association, predicted that state funding will be reduced by as much as $1,000 for each student if the legislature does not raise revenues for schools. Former Gov. Kaine's introduced budget cut K-12 funding by $600.5 million, and public education may be subject to another $720 million in cuts in the biennial budget. "One billion-plus in state education cuts will steal our children's future," Boitnott predicted. (Find out how cuts would affect your school division.)

Michael Cassidy, executive director of The Commonwealth Institute, summarized the proposed tax adjustments included in the Keep the Promise To Virginia's Children Act, that would restore approximately $1.3 billion in education cuts over a two-year period:

• Corporate Income Tax Reform, resulting in $139 million increased revenue by requiring related companies to combine their reporting, redefining non-business income, and delaying implementation of a single sales factor.
• Individual Income Tax Reform, resulting in $783 million increased revenue by removing a grandfather clause on the age deduction for those 65 and older, restricting the land preservation tax credit, and enacting a temporary high-income surcharge on individuals earning more than $250,000 a year.
• Sales Tax Reform, resulting in $224 million increased revenue, by expanding sales tax to computer service and internet sales.
• Temporarily reinstating the estate tax, resulting in $155 million increased revenues.

In her remarks, Boitnott notes that Virginia, despite being 8th in the nation in wealth, ranks 35th in the country in per-pupil state support for public education and 41st in the nation in taxes. "A real good question for those who oppose tax restructuring is, 'Can a state that is 41st out of 50 in tax rates have the best schools, universities, public safety, transportation, and other public services?' In the final analysis, we must ask ourselves: 'What are we doing to our children and their public schools?'"

Photos: Sen. Mamie Locke (top) and VEA President Kitty Boitnott (at right) brief the media on school funding. View additional photos here.