Legislation

2011 List of Priorities

VALECO represents the common interests of Virginia’s five, locally-elected constitutional officers – circuit court clerks, Commonwealth’s attorneys, commissioners of the revenue, sheriffs and treasurers -- and their more than 15,000 deputies.  VALECO’s efforts complement those of the five office associations, addressing issues of common concern to all of these offices.

Virginia’s constitutional officers are grateful for the 2010 General Assembly’s response to deep budget cuts and other proposals contained in the outgoing governor’s budget bill.  While the General Assembly was not able to restore all of reductions proposed in the introduced budget, the worst of the more than $150 million in proposed cuts were reversed, preserving essential services in every county and city in the Commonwealth.

Nevertheless, constitutional officers continue to face the challenges of sharply reduced funding, inadequate staffing, and compensation and benefits that have failed to keep pace with those of state employees.  VALECO’s legislative priorities for 2011 reflect these continuing issues of concern.

HOUSE BILL 2144 (Delegate Joe Johnson)

Equalize Retiree Health Insurance Coverage for Constitutional Officers with that of Retired Teachers and State Employees

Retired constitutional office employees receive a retiree health credit that is only $45 per month for a retiree with 30 years’ service – a benefit rate that is almost two-thirds smaller than that received by retired teachers and retired state employees; a 30-year teacher or state employee is eligible for $120/month.  This bill would equalize the benefit so that constitutional office, teacher and state employee retirees.  As a result of 2010 changes in reimbursement policy, there is no state budget impact.

2011 BUDGET PRIORITY:  RESTORE STATE FUNDING FOR LIABILITY COVERAGE & BONDS

The 2011 Budget Bill proposes total elimination of state funding for the programs that protect constitutional officers against liability claims and pay for bonds (Item 67.90.N).  This policy change would push an additional $1.7 million in premium obligations back to localities.  Moreover, it comes on the heels of the state forcing localities to absorb 50% of these premiums (an additional $1.7 million) in the last round of budget cuts.  The total reduction in annual state funding for these premiums, then, would reach $3.4 million in the coming biennium.

2011 BUDGET PRIORITY:  PROVIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES THE SAME 3% BONUS PROVIDED IN 2010 TO STATE EMPLOYEES

State employees were provided a one-time, 3% bonus in December 2010 in lieu of a salary increase.  Constitutional office employees did not share in this compensation and thus have seen yet another year of decreasing real compensation in the face of inflation and rising benefit costs.  Virginia’s constitutional officers respectfully request that the General Assembly provide funding for a similar, one-time bonus for constitutional office employees in 2011.  (Funds required: $14.3 million (GF))

LONG-TERM BUDGET PRIORITY:  ADDRESS THE GROWING “POSITION GAP” IN CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES

The Compensation Board develops and annually updates objective staffing standards for each of the constitutional offices.  Perennially, the Commonwealth has funded substantially fewer positions in constitutional offices than these objective staffing standards indicate are the minimum necessary to handle present workloads (let alone accommodate workload growth).  The “position gap” – the difference between the positions needed and the positions funded – has grown enormously over the past decade as a result of workload growth and compounded by budget cuts, which have resulted in positions being eliminated or left vacant for years at a time, and pushed funding back on localities at a time that they can least afford it.