Wonder where our tax money goes? Del. Harry Morgan (R-Middlesex) is one of the mavericks who has the facts. (I can’t find the web link, but here’s an excerpt from the Hampton Roads Daily Press story):
Since 2001, the state has enrolled 44,000 more people into Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the needy and disabled. It has 36,000 more children in public schools, 12,000 more students in state colleges and universities, 4,600 more state-responsible prisoners, 1,900 more kids in foster care and 15,000 more children in FAMIS, a health insurance program for children of working families.
Last year, the state closed a $2.1 billion gap by leaning on one-time fixes – nearly 45 percent of the actions that it took can’t be duplicated this year.
The required and high-priority items for the next two years carry a price tag of nearly $1.5 billion. That doesn’t include pay raises or three new prisons to be built in response to mandatory sentencing guidelines.
Sen. Brandon Bell (R-Roanoke) has an answer for Virginia’s budget problems.
Christina Nuckols of the Virginian-Pilot has a good story on sales tax exemptions.
Who’s taking taxpayers money because of the budget impasse?
Here’s an idea how to pay for goods schools: Fatten our kids
Virginians are singing the same sad song.