VMT appropriation hearing

[NW Mailing List]

December 29, 2006

Good morning!

A couple of weeks ago, Governor Tim Kaine spoke before
the money committees of the House of Delegates and the
Senate to present his amendments to the current
biennium budget.  For his first budget submission,
Governor Kaine emphasized his priorities for the
slightly over $1 billion in available new money: 
primarily transportation fixes ($500 million),
increased investment in health care ($100 million),
and education ($80 million).

The Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) is
proposed to get a $150,000 increase to its Fiscal Year
(FY) 2007 appropriation but no adjustment for FTY
2008. For a full report on the budget recommendations,
including adjustments to non-general or special fund
appropriations, go to the Virginia Department of
Planning and Budget website at
www.dpb.state.va.us/budget.

The General Assembly Budget Hearings will be held in
Loudoun County, Williamsburg, Danville, and Abingdon
on Thursday, January 4 (begins at 12:00noon), and in
Richmond on Monday, January 15 (begins at 1:00pm)
If anyone wants to present views on behalf of VMT to
members of the money committees, here's your chance.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2006 
Loudoun County 
Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus,
Waddell Theater 

Williamsburg 
The College of William & Mary University Center,
Commonwealth Auditorium

Danville
Danville Community College, T. Edward Temple Building,
Oliver Hall (Room 110)

Abingdon
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2006 
Richmond 
General Assembly Building 

Guidelines
The following guidelines usually apply to the
hearings:
* Registration to speak usually available one hour
before the hearings.
* Speakers will be taken in the order of registration.
* Each person may register only one speaker at a time.
* Speakers are asked to limit their comments to three
minutes or less.
* Speakers representing groups and organizations
should consolidate remarks to reduce duplication.

If anyone wants the complete list of budget amendments
listing other non-railway organizations, please send
me a note off-list.  Regardless of your views about
VMT management, it is the home of much irreplaceable
and historically-significant rail equipment and
artifacts.  Here's your opportunity to have a say in
where your state tax dollars go.

Happy new year to all,

Frank Scheer
f_scheer at yahoo.com