Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1993 TAG: 9310130077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Council member Paul Goldman withdrew his $223 million tax proposal when it became clear the majority of the board opposed it. Virginia's public colleges and the council earlier had asked for $223 million in state funds for student aid and faculty salaries and to offset tuition increases.
"The only way to get there is to raise revenues," Goldman told the council. "There is no other funding around."
Goldman, a political confidant of Gov. Douglas Wilder, asked fellow council members to heed their own warnings about the crisis in higher education. Repeated cuts in funds for universities have forced tuition increases and reductions in services to students.
Most council members, however, said now is not the time to seek a tax increase from the General Assembly.
"I'd say that we don't have any idea of the kind of environment we'd be making recommendations in," said council member John O. Wynne. He said any tax increase should wait until universities have had more opportunity to improve efficiency and make other cost savings.
Wynne also suggested that Wilder may propose further cuts in education.
Goldman said his proposal was not an attempt to shield Wilder from the political fallout of a possible tax increase.
Wilder has said he will not propose a tax increase in the two-year budget he presents to the General Assembly in December.
"I speak for myself," Goldman said.
Goldman tried to convince the council that merely asking for the $223 million from the General Assembly was foolhardy. The council must go a step further and propose a way to get the money, he said.
"I propose that we say this is what is right; and if the political leaders don't want to do it, that's their business," he said. "It just seems like everyone has wants, but no one is willing to step up to the plate and do anything unpopular."
Board member Tommy Baer appeared to be Goldman's only supporter.
"I don't know what the General Assembly is going to do, but . . . I'd be willing to bet the farm they are not going to come up with $223 million," Baer said.
Baer suggested the board consider Goldman's proposal later.
If the General Assembly refuses to provide the money, and the universities fail to make significant cost savings on their own, taxes might seem more reasonable, board members said.
After the meeting, Goldman said he doubted a convenient time for a tax increase will ever come.
"There's always a reason that it's never the right time," he said.
Virginia ranks near the bottom of the nation in the amount of state money spent on higher education per capita.
The presidents of state universities beseeched Wilder last month to stop the erosion of state funding. Wilder has said universities must do a better job of cutting waste and improving services.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the board voted 9-1 to recommend doubling the number of graduates from Virginia medical schools who go into general medicine.
About 25 percent choose residencies in general medicine, with the rest going into specialties, a report presented to the board said.
Educating more generalists would improve access to health care and lower costs overall, the report said.
by CNB