Longwood University Governmental Affairs

The Longwood University Governmental Affairs web site is dedicated to keeping you informed and will provide you with information on key issues in the Virginia legislature, as well as certain Federal issues, that affect Longwood.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Brenda Atkins at 434-395-2027 or atkinsbl@longwood.edu .

Current Legislative Issues

Legislative Update - December 18, 2008

Many of you have been following the news from Richmond regarding Virginia’s budget crisis. On Wednesday, December 17, Governor Timothy Kaine released his official “Revenue Reforecast” and announced his plans to address the projected $2.9 billion shortfall for the 2008-10 biennium.

As you may recall, in October we were directed by the Governor to reduce our budget by 5 percent, totaling $1,356,876 for 2009. At that time, Longwood curtailed travel, except for mission-critical travel, personnel searches were restricted, and other cost-saving measures were implemented.

For 2010, Governor Kaine’s revised budget means an additional 10 percent cut of $2,747,349 to our educational and general (E&G) fund appropriation. When this 10 percent reduction is added to the October 5 percent reduction, which carries over into 2010, it brings Longwood’s total E&G budget reduction to $4,104,225, a 15 percent cut to our E&G budget. These cuts are in addition to the 6 percent cut of $1,669,511 in October 2007. Since October 2007, with the Governor’s proposed 2010 reductions, Longwood’s E&G budget will have been cut 21 percent, a reduction of $5,773,736 in total.

In October, the Governor postponed the 2 percent pay raise scheduled for November 2008 for all state employees. With his proposed budget introduced on December 17, all scheduled salary increases for 2009 and 2010 have been eliminated.

While there are budget reductions in the Governor’s 2010 proposed budget, there are also some additions. The Governor has recommended an increase of $395,244 to Longwood’s financial aid appropriation. Additionally, the $615,000 tuition moderation incentive funding that the University received in 2009 for holding its tuition increase to 4 percent was included in the 2010 budget as a permanent base budget addition. Upon the recommendation of Secretary Tavenner, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and because of Virginia’s critical need for health care providers, the Governor included $240,442 for Longwood’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

It is important to remember that the 2010 proposed budget recommendations made by Governor Kaine must now go to the General Assembly for its review and consideration. The General Assembly session starts on January 14 and is scheduled to adjourn on February 28.

In early January, Dr. Cormier will convene a meeting with faculty, staff and student representatives to discuss Governor Kaine’s proposed 2010 budget reductions and how the University can best meet those cuts while maintaining core services and not laying off employees.