2004-03-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2 Ms. Dede Smith, School Board member, asked i f other venues were discussed by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, and said she agreed with the question about whether this is a large enough honor. Ms. Stratton said it was requested that the Committee start with the Performing Arts Cen ter. Mr. Schilling encouraged Rev. Edwards to make the community aware of the good reasons he has mentioned for renaming the Center. Ms. Richards said that Council needs to reconsider the resolution it adopted on th March 17 supporting the Virginia Sena te's budget because one member was not present during the vote and it had not been included on the special notice. Ms. Richards said the School Board may want to consider supporting the resolution as well. Mr. Caravati read the resolution. Ms. Bowen s aid that School Board members may want to informally express their support, but said the School Board cannot take formal action at this meeting. Ms. Richards said that there is a $4 million difference in funding for the City over the next two years betwe en the House and Senate budgets. Mr. Caravati made a motion to approve the resolution and Mr. Lynch seconded the motion. Mr. Schilling said that since he has not read the State or House budgets and since they are constantly in flux he cannot support th e resolution. The Resolution Supporting the Biennial State Budget as Proposed by the Virginia Senate was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards. Noes: Mr. Schilling. Absent: Mr. Cox. WHEREAS , to date the Virgin ia General Assembly has failed to adopt a state budget despite extending its regular session in order to consider competing proposals from the House of Delegates, the Senate and the Governor; and, WHEREAS, the inability of the General Assembly to adopt a state budget that adequately addresses the financial challenges facing the Commonwealth could threaten the state's Triple - A credit rating, which may affect the outcome of any future bond rating analysis for the City of Charlottesville, which currently has the highest possible rating; and, WHEREAS, the failure of the General Assembly to reach a budget compromise poses serious challenges and difficulties for the City of Charlottesville, and disrupts its current budget and tax decision making processes; and, WHEREAS, it is a fundamental obligation and duty of the General Assembly, as the elected representatives of all Virginians, to adopt a state budget that fully funds government's core responsibilities, including but not limited to education, public safety , transportation and health and human services; and WHEREAS, the continued failure of the General Assembly to meet its basic commitments to the citizens of this Commonwealth will unfairly and irresponsibly shift those burdens onto local governments and t heir tax base; and, WHEREAS, the state budget proposed by the Virginia Senate makes a significant and overdue investment in public education, and recognizes the state's financial obligation in areas such as local police protection, state per diem payments for prisoners in local jails, and the state transportation system.