I have to admit that the last thing I ever thought I would be writing about is transportation. As VEA President, my main concerns center primarily around funding for Virginia’s public schools and advocating for the children of the Commonwealth. Given the problems that Bob McDonnell’s proposed transportation plan would cause Virginia’s public schools, however, I feel compelled to speak out.
The McDonnell plan is cause for concern on two grounds. First, the plan reopens the debate regarding taking funds from the General Fund to build roads. McDonnell’s plan destroys the line between the state’s General Fund, which has traditionally supported schools and other core services, and the Non-General Fund, which has historically been used for our roads.
McDonnell’s proposal is particularly troubling given that it is a fact that current revenues are already insufficient to fund our public schools and other core public services such as public safety. The Board of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly are, in fact, considering permanent cuts of $340 million per year to Virginia’s school funding formula. This is absolutely the wrong time to pit the interests of the construction industry against Virginia’s school children.
A second concern is that, once again, Virginians are being served up a plan for solving a critical problem that our economic future absolutely depends upon, with a plan that is largely based upon highly speculative assumptions. Let me offer some questions for readers to consider:
Can we really assume either a budget surplus or new revenue growth in the near future? If you answer, “No,” subtract $136 million from the McDonnell plan.
Do you think that Pennsylvania’s unapproved federal application to toll I-80 in that state establishes legal precedence and, therefore, a clear path to Virginia tolling I-81 and I-95? If that’s not clear, subtract another $50 million.
My understanding is that the cost of extracting offshore oil is $100 a barrel. When the price of oil is $64 a barrel, what investor is going to go drilling off Virginia’s shore looking to make a profit? Aside from that, both the Navy and NASA oppose offshore drilling in Virginia for defense related reasons. And let us not forget that there are environmental issues to be considered as well. If that plan doesn’t pan out, subtract another $177 million a year from McDonnell’s proposal.
Without a doubt, Virginia’s transportation needs pose serious problems that deserve serious proposals. From my perspective, the problem with McDonnell’s proposal is that a major portion of the money to be used would be taken away from our already financially strapped public schools. Virginians want and deserve a serious solution to our transportation crisis. I do not believe that they want to solve the transportation crisis by taking revenue from Virginia’s schools and its children.
Dr. Kitty Boitnott, PhD , NBCT, is President of the 60,000 member Virginia Education Association. She served as a media specialist in Franklin County, Roanoke County and Henrico County public schools before election to her current position. She earned her doctoral degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
What a shock…a union leader opposes McDonnell.
Thank you for reminding Virginia’s citizens not to be fooled by smoke and mirrors.
Right on, Kitty! McDonnell proposes a list of things to help roads, that would decimate schools and other aspects of the Va. budget. His proposals sound like a child’s ideas on how to get more transportation money; sorry, Mr. McDonnell, but it’s the truth.
While Pennsylvania never received approval to make I-80 a toll road for specific reasons, Virginia has already received approval to make I-81 a toll road.
However McDonnell will face the same difficulties that Pennsylvania faces by attempting to put up tollbooths on I-85 and I-95 on the North Carolina border.
When she lived in Roanoke, Boitnott was in the pocket of Democrats, too…so this is no big surprise
Kitty has integrity and stature and I’ve became a supporter of her leadership. Thank you for your insight Kitty. Keep up the good work PTYS
Does either J.R. Hoeft or JB Mixon refute the facts Ms. Boitnott has presented regarding Candidate McDonnell’s transportaion plan?
“Does either J.R. Hoeft or JB Mixon refute the facts Ms. Boitnott has presented regarding Candidate McDonnell’s transportaion plan?”
If she had any facts in the piece, then I’d be happy to refute them. Rather, this is a rant full of conjecture, asinine opinions and “my understanding is” hogwash.
What kind of transportation plan does Mr. Deeds have? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Fact 1: McDonnell’s plan destroys the line between the state’s General Fund, which has traditionally supported schools and other core services, and the Non-General Fund, which has historically been used for our roads.
Fact 2: The Board of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly are, in fact, considering permanent cuts of $340 million per year to Virginia’s school funding formula.
Fact 3: Virginians are being served up a plan for solving a critical problem that our economic future absolutely depends upon, with a plan that is largely based upon highly speculative assumptions.