In this third week of the General Assembly Session, the issues that will dominate are coming into focus.  A lot of my effort in the session will be devoted to analyzing budget proposals with the Arlington and Fairfax staff to ascertain their potential impacts, positive and negative, on our communities.  Much of the action will take place on the Appropriations and Transportation Committees, to which I was reappointed on the first day of the session.

One of the most serious issues affecting Northern Virginia this session to date is the proposal in the Governor’s Budget to substantially reduce the “Cost of Competing” factor – differential funding for salaries for support staff in Northern Virginia schools including Arlington and Fairfax County. This differential allows schools in the area to hire and retain quality support staff (librarians, technology staff etc.) in the competitive employment market of Northern Virginia.  There is a strong bi-partisan support in the Northern Virginia delegation to turn back this budget reduction.  Our schools have to be able to attract and retain the best employees, teachers and support staff, in order to maintain the quality of our K-12 education.  I have recorded a short video to give more details on what such a reduction would mean to Northern Virginia schools.