Support for education should be a priority

By: | Inside NoVA
Published: June 17, 2008

Education has never been more important to Virginia. A quality education provides opportunity and keeps young people on the path to a bright future. It is, and always has been, the most powerful engine
for upward mobility in our nation. The commonwealth, as a whole, also benefits because a highly educated workforce draws economic investment Virginians understand this and agree with the analysis. In
poll after poll they rate the education of the state’s children to be one of their top priorities.

But there is a serious disconnect between what people want and what some delegates are doing in Richmond. House Budget Item 140 #52h would have cut Virginia’s support of public education by $175
million a year. Del. Jackson Miller (and others) voted in favor of this huge cut. This type of voting places ideology above the needs of our children. Fortunately it did not pass.

If this budget item had passed, the jurisdictions of Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County would have lost a combined total of more than $23 million. Just imagine the impact on all
localities in a state that already ranks 33rd in the nation in terms of state per-pupil support for education.

In order to make up this deficit, local annual taxes would have been raised an average of $50 on a $250,000 home. So Jackson Miller’s vote would have resulted in your local taxes GOING UP!

Don’t be fooled. Jackson Miller is not a friend of education. Smiling, shaking hands with people and SAYING that he supports education is contradicted by his actions.

Popularity and image management cannot be allowed to distract the public’s attention from the lack of genuine and substantial support for education.

PAMELA KINCHELOE
Manassas