
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 30, 1993                   TAG: 9312300201
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: STERLING                                LENGTH: Medium

BUDGET CUTS DRAW PROTEST FROM PUBLIC

Angry Northern Virginia residents told legislators Wednesday that proposed cuts in education and mental-health funding could spark tuition increases and hurt the needy.

They spoke at the second of five public hearings on Gov. Douglas Wilder's proposed 1994-96 budget before the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees.

Wilder last week unveiled a $32 billion state budget that cuts education aid and some social services. Wilder said he made cuts because he expects tax revenues to fall $350 million short of spending needs.

Speakers criticized a plan to cut pay differentials for teachers in Northern Virginia from 12.86 percent to 8 percent. Local officials said the differential is needed to attract teachers to an area with a high cost of living.

"We'll fight that, and I think we can probably stop that," said Del. Marian Van Landingham, D-Alexandria.

Other speakers criticized proposed cuts for colleges and universities of as much as 11 percent. Some said the cuts could force hefty tuition increases at schools such as George Mason University in Fairfax.

Also under fire was a proposal to cut another $11.5 million from Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. The system has lost $68 million in funding over the past four years.

"In the last three years, we have suffered a 27.5 percent reduction in local tax support," said Richard Sleeman, chairman of the Loudoun County Community Services Board.

"At the beginning of this fiscal year, we ended service to 100 mental-health and substance-abuse clients as a result of local funding reductions and loss of staff, and we will be unable to absorb even the 1 percent reduction for community services without severe distress," he said.

Legislators said providing funds for required programs, such as Medicaid, forced cuts in other social services.

"There are some things that just won't go away," said Sen. Joseph Gartlan Jr., D-Fairfax County. "We have to keep locking up criminals, we have to keep educating people, and we have to take care of them when they get sick. That doesn't leave very much left over to spread around."

Further hearings are set for Tuesday in Virginia Beach, Jan. 5 in Lynchburg and Jan. 17 in Richmond.

by CNB