Local Connection
November 2010

Local Government Briefing

County of Roanoke

On November 5th, Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe "Butch" Church delivered the annual State of the County Address at the Green Ridge Recreation Center.  While Church highlighted a number of capital projects including the Green Ridge Recreation Center, expansion of the Roanoke River Greenway in western Roanoke County, and new libraries in South County and Glenvar, he also warned that the County will continue to face financial challenges in the year ahead. To read the 2010 State of the County Address, click here. 

Regional & State Briefing

Budget Update for 2011 Session
Number crunchers in Richmond have begun their annual budget briefings with legislators and members of the McDonnell Administration. 
Highlights from Senate Finance Committee Retreat (November 18-19)
*Virginia's budget outlook has not dramatically improved with only a modest uptick in revenues. 
*Based on Senate Finance Committee staff estimates of revenue and outlays, a general fund shortfall of under $200 million is likely for the amended 2010-12 biennial budget.
*Balancing the budget should not require major budget cuts. 
*Major budget pressures like Medicaid, K-12 education, and debt service will create challenges for the 2012-14 biennial budget. 
Documents from the Retreat can be found here. 
On November 22nd, Governor McDonnell convened the Governor's Advisory Council on  Revenue Estimates (GACRE) to examine Virginia's economic indicators and revenue forecasts. These numbers will be used by the McDonnell Administration to prepare revisions to the biennial budget. In October, McDonnell asked state agency heads to develop cost saving strategies. McDonnell will present his budget amendments that may incorporate some of these austerity measures to a joint meeting of the General Assembly money committees on December 17th. See more here. 

Special Election(s) - January 11th
As we bid congratulations and adieu to State Senator Robert Hurt and Delegate/Majority Leader Morgan Griffith following their respective victories on November 2nd, voters will head to the polls (again) on January 11th to elect their replacements in Richmond. 
8th House District
Salem lawyer and Republican party activist Greg Habeeb wasted little time announcing his intention to fill Griffith's shoes in the 8th district lining up a who's who of the party establishment behind his candidacy. Habeeb will face Democrat Ginger Mumpower, a former member of the Radford City Council and jewelry store owner. 
Habeeb Campaign Website
Mumpower Campaign Website
19th Senate District
Franklin County attorney Bill Stanley outlasted five other candidates in last week's  'firehouse' primary and emerged as the Republican nominee to fill the Senate seat vacated by Congressman-elect Robert Hurt. Stanley will now tangle with Democrat Hank Davis, the current chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. See more here. 
Davis Campaign Website
Stanley Campaign Website

Never Too Soon for 2012 Speculation?
In recent interviews, Virginia Senator Jim Webb has remained strategically coy about his future in politics. A mid-November PPP poll found Webb slightly ahead of hypothetical challengers, most notably former Senator George Allen, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Interestingly, former Governor Tim Kaine outpolls Allen, Bolling, and Cuccinelli as well. Governor McDonnell recently indicated that he believes Allen will run in 2012.  See more here, here, here and here. 

States, Employers Seeing Red
One of the lingering effects of the 2008-09 Great Recession has been the on-going stress placed on state and federal unemployment trust funds. The current unemployment insurance system requires states to continue to pay out benefits even if their unemployment trust funds have been drained. Thirty-one states, including Virginia, have collectively borrowed over $40 billion from the federal government to sustain their unemployment trust fund coffers (Virginia has borrowed $346.8 million as of September 29th). Employers are responsible for replenishing state trust fund accounts and paying off federal loans with interest. Without Congressional action, interest payments on borrowed federal unemployment insurance funds will be due in the fall of 2011. Virginia would owe approximately $22 million. Federal loans have so-far been interest free under a 2009 waiver that expires in January. As the tenuous economic recovery continues, the prospect of an increase in payroll taxes presents yet another barrier for employers seeking new hires. See more here. 

Quick Hits

Virginia's Debt Service Increased by 50% Since 2007

Virginia's Unemployment Rate Holds Steady in October

Repealing the 1099 Requirement

Stat of the Month: 126,072 passengers on the Amtrak Virginia train from Lynchburg to Washington D.C. since October 1, 2009 or 147% more passengers than projected.  See more here. 

Quality of Life Projects Briefing

One of the Chamber's priorities is to monitor the development of quality of life projects in our region.  Enhancing our region's considerable amenities is vital to attracting and retaining young workers, fresh capital, and innovative thinking. Below is a list of recent developments:

Explore Park- A Vision for the Future

On Monday, the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority (VRFA) released their report on the future of Explore Park, the 1,100 acre facility that formerly operated as an outdoor living history museum and recreation attraction. Mandated by the General Assembly to prevent the reversion of the property back to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the VRFA report was formulated by a consortium of economic development, recreational professionals, and local stakeholders. The conceptual master plan examines how to expand and improve the Park's current infrastructure and amenities through creative public-private partnerships. Immediate short term plans include reopening facilities in the Hospitality Plaza to generate rental income, hosting special events and programs, promoting the Park as an ideal location for the production of films, advertising, and print media, and creating a 'pay for play' access program for mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and river access. Long-term goals include the development of a natural amphitheater, an adventure park for kids, a bicycle ride and skills center, and retail and food service establishments. The report will be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor in early December. A copy of the VRFA Report can be found here. 
Position: The Chamber supports development of the Explore Park site to enhance the region's growing reputation as a destination for outdoor amenities. 

Center in the Square Edges Towards Goal

Hoping to have their fundraising campaign finished by the end of the year, Center in the Square recently announced they have closed to within $200,000 of their $9 million goal. The $27 million renovation began a month ago with demolition work inside the Center's building on Church avenue. Construction on the main building on Campbell is tentatively scheduled to begin in July 2011. See more here. 

A documentary on the history of Center in the Square and the capital renovation can be found here. 

A comprehensive list of these projects can be found on the Chamber's website.  

Do you have ideas on projects you'd like for us to follow? Send us an e-mail or write a comment on the Chamber's blog on local and state public policy issues. RSS feeds are available for both the quality of life projects page and the legislative blog. 

If you have questions about any of the blog features on the Chamber's Web site, please contact Tori Williams at twilliams@roanokechamber.org

Upcoming Events

The 121st Annual Meeting with Adrian Cronauer (the inspiration for the Robin Williams' character in "Good Morning, Vietnam!"),  Thursday, December 2, 6PM-9PM, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

Annual Capital Dinner, Tuesday, January 25th, Richmond Marriott, 6:00 to 8:00PM. For more information or to register, click here. 

For a list of more Chamber events, click here and to access the Chamber's Community Calendar, click here.

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