February 15, 2008
804-698-7815
CLARKSVILLE – State Senator Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville) today questioned Governor Tim Kaine’s proposed state budget because it seriously cuts funding for K-12 education. The proposed cuts will cost the schools in Senator Ruff’s district over 9 million dollars in state aid.
Senator Ruff stated, “Governor Kaine is putting our children’s education at risk and it is simply unacceptable. I will do everything possible to make sure these cuts do not occur.”
Senator Ruff continued, “Each county that I represent has built new schools or upgraded existing school believing that the lottery money would be available to make those annual payments. Without these dollars coming from the state as promised, each school system will have to make these payments before a single dollar can be spent on teachers or supplies for the classroom.”
Kaine’s proposed budget cuts core education to fund new initiatives such as his proposed pre-K program.
“Now is not the time to be starting more government programs, especially if those programs force cuts in those things that our state government has a primary responsibility to do- like educating our children”, Ruff said.
While Governor Kaine’s proposed cuts will costs schools in the 15th District over $9 million, schools in Fairfax County, with over five times the population of the eleven counties of the 15th district, will only lose $11 million.
Senator Ruff said, “Not only does Governor Kaine’s proposed cuts endanger our children’s education, it is done in a way that impact’s the states less affluent communities unfairly.”
It will now be up to the General Assembly to develop a new budget and it is unlikely that legislators and the people of Virginia will allow Governor Kaine’s budget cuts go through.
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