[Nfbv-announce] Governor's Recommendations for Balancing the Budget for the 2011-2012 Biennium

[Fredric Schroeder]

FYI.

-----Original Message-----
From: Hopkins, Raymond E. [mailto:Ray.Hopkins at dbvi.virginia.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 7:27 PM
To: Carneal, Joan G.; amatney at hf-law.com; aburns at hired-hands.org;
bishopbafranklin at earthlink.net; Burton, Robert S. (Bob); burzio at peatc.org;
kitty.g.grant at gmail.com; Doug.powell.oldjock at gmail.com.; Faye Adams;
Frances775 at aol.com; theomacon914 at aol.com; ktrump at mail.vak12ed.edu; Macias,
Martha; Bardone at text2u.com; mbrunson at acb.org; burtonjm at verizon.net;
michaelgkasey at verizon.net; Pat Beattie; Payne, Susan D.;
kenneyrl at comcast.net; rickgonzalez at hotmail.com; holleymanor at verizon.net;
sherrieph.blind1 at cox.net; rivah52 at comcast.net
Cc: Bruce, Liza; david phillips; Fred Schroeder
Subject: RE: Governor's Recommendations for Balancing the Budget for the
2011-2012 Biennium


 	
I wanted to clarify the budgetary information sent earlier today. Please
note that this is DBVI information excerpted from the larger document
released by the Governor's office. It is public information and
constitutes the Governor's recommendations to the House Appropriations
and Senate Budget Committees. 

Secondly, this is the initiation of the process. The General Assembly
must now act to produce and pass a  budget by its March 13 adjournment.
Sunday afternoon, February 21, is the deadline for the budget bills to
be reported out of the respective budget committees.

As we acquire information, we will share it with appropriate parties.


Raymond E. Hopkins, Commissioner
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
397 Azalea Avenue
Richmond, VA 23227
Phone: (804) 371-3145
Toll Free (in Virginia): (800) 622-2155
Fax: (804) 371-3157
E-mail: Ray.Hopkins at dbvi.virginia.gov  
	
-----Original Message-----
From: Carneal, Joan G. 
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3:06 PM
To: Angela Matney (amatney at hf-law.com); Anna Burns
(aburns at hired-hands.org); Benjamin Franklin
(bishopbafranklin at earthlink.net); Burton, Robert S. (Bob); Carneal, Joan
G.; Catherine Burzio (burzio at peatc.org); Claudie Grant Jr.
(kitty.g.grant at gmail.com); Doug Powell (Doug.powell.oldjock at gmail.com.);
Faye Adams; Frances775 at aol.com; Hopkins, Raymond E.; Hortense Macon
(theomacon914 at aol.com); ktrump at mail.vak12ed.edu; Macias, Martha;
Marguerite Bardone (Bardone at text2u.com); Melanie Brunson
(mbrunson at acb.org); Michael Burton (burtonjm at verizon.net); Michael G.
Kasey (michaelgkasey at verizon.net); Pat Beattie; Payne, Susan D.; Raymond
Kenny (kenneyrl at comcast.net); Richard Gonzalez
(rickgonzalez at hotmail.com); Richard Holley (holleymanor at verizon.net);
Sherrie Phillips (sherrieph.blind1 at cox.net); William Alley
(rivah52 at comcast.net)
Subject: Governor's Recommendations for Balancing the Budget for the
2011-2012 Biennium
Importance: High

The below information was shared with DBVI staff from Commissioner
Hopkins this afternoon.

All:

Earlier we received an e-mail from the Governor regarding his budget
proposals and their affect on employees of the Commonwealth. Below are
items included in his recommendations that impact DBVI specifically.  We
know that in these austere financial times, all agencies are being
called upon to make sacrifices. 

We have no detailed description to offer of how DBVI will operate if
these recommendations are enacted, but there may be significant changes
to accommodate the reduced funding. We will share any additional
information as we become aware of it.

Regards,

Ray




Reduce Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired administrative
funding ($0.6 million) 

Reduces administrative expenses by five percent at the Department for
the Blind and Vision Impaired $292,557 each year. 

This strategy in combination with other proposed strategies may result
in the agency not being able to meet the maintenance of effort (MOE) for
the vocational rehabilitation grant. If that happens the agency will
lose a portion of the federal match and may be fined by the federal
Department of Education. 

Other sources of MOE may be available. 


Replace administrative support services with nongeneral funds ($0.9
million) 

Currently the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) makes
an annual payment to the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) for
the administrative functions such as HR, fiscal, purchasing, and IT.
DBVI also pays, using their general fund, DRS for the same services
provided to the Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB). This strategy
will require VIB to pay their own share which will free up general fund
at DBVI. 

Consolidate disability service agencies into the Department of
Rehabilitative Services ($0.8 million) 

Eliminates the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI), the
Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, the
Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH), and the Virginia
Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) into the Department of
Rehabilitative Services (DRS). 

All services provided by these agencies will continue to be provided by
DRS. 


The savings associated with this strategy comes from eliminating the
positions of the director from DBVI, DDHH, and VBPD as well as other
efficiencies. 

At this time there are no deputy directors or clear successor at these
agencies to assume the roll of leadership and guide the services to the
respective consumer groups. 

A review of federal legal requirements for the structure of
state-provided services to these populations must be undertaken before
finalizing this action. 

Raymond E. Hopkins, Commissioner
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
397 Azalea Avenue
Richmond, VA 23227
Phone: (804) 371-3145
Toll Free (in Virginia): (800) 622-2155
Fax: (804) 371-3157
E-mail: Ray.Hopkins at dbvi.virginia.gov