Virginia's Constitutional Officers - Directly Accountable To You!

Legislative Update   AN UPDATE FROM RICHMOND February 5, 2001 We are pleased to report that, in budget circumstances that were extremely trying, constitutional officers nevertheless fared pretty well. The following is based upon a VERY quick read of the voluminous subcommittee reports, released earlier this evening; note that we will be confirming details so please stand by for further updates.. All Offices >>3.5% salary increase for constitutional officers and their deputies provided in each house's budget ($8.7 million for constitutional officers; $13.5 million for all state-supported local employees) >>Commissioner of the Revenue principal officer funding restored ($3 million) >>E-Government initiative in constitutional offices remains in budget as proposed (unfortunately funded in each house by diversion of uncommitted balances in clerks' Technology Trust Fund) Clerks >>Budget language directing Comp Board to study deputy clerk Career Development Program, proposed by Governor, apparently remains in both budgets. Commissioners >>Principal officer funding cut proposed by Governor restored (see above) >>Deputy COR Career Development Program study language included in both budgets. >>Conversion of 23 full-time hourly wage positions into permanent, full-benefit positions ($11,100) in SENATE BUDGET ONLY Commonwealth's Attorneys >>Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council received $28,900 in SENATE BUDGET ONLY to continue implementation of and training for VCAIS case management system Sheriffs >>Additional per diem payments for housing of local and state-responsible prisoners funded in SENATE BUDGET ONLY (additional $12 million) >>Both budgets restore funding for consolidated laboratories, which provides important analytical support for sheriffs with law-enforcement responsibilities (Senate restores full $1.4 million that Governor proposed cutting; House, $680,000) Treasurers >>Budget language implementing deputy Career Development Program, to commence in FY03, in both budgets >>Conversion of 39 full-time hourly wage positions to permanent positions with benefits ($18,812) funded in SENATE BUDGET ONLY. >>50 new positions proposed in Governor's budget apparently remain in HOUSE BUDGET, but were deleted in SENATE BUDGET. For more information regarding VALECOs legislative agenda, please contact VALECO Legislative Counsel Alan D. Albert at 697-1368 or by E-mail at alan.albert@troutmansanders.com -BACK-