Lynchburg: facing a loss of $15-16 million in state revenue? A suggestion.

December 2, 2009


News and Advance
PO Box 10129
Lynchburg, VA 24506

Letter to the Editor;

“Working for efficiency in government” was the official editorial in the News and Advance on December 1. Noted were examples of possible cost savings in Lynchburg City government.
What other costs can be reduced?

For example in 2009 Lynchburg paid 20 percent of the City’s employee payroll into the public employee Virginia Retirement System (VRS). That is millions of tax-dollars paid year after year. For the budget year ended June 30, 2008 --- $17.7 million in VRS pensions were paid out to retired city and school board employees (per the City’s Comprehensive Annual Report on page 44 as completed by Lynchburg’s Financial Services)

What is the cause of the high 20 percent contribution rate? Is the total amount the City pays into VRS driven up by the high number of employees taking early disability retirement? The answer I received from a City official during a recent meeting in City Council Chambers is that this is in fact the root cause of the City’s high VRS cost. During that meeting it was also noted that another large local government employer in the greater Lynchburg area pays less than 10 percent of its payroll cost to participate in VRS. As such, it appears possible for the city in the long-run to significantly lower this high cost.

State legislators acted in 1998 to insulate State government from skyrocketing costs of employee disability retirements. Legislators created the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program which keeps state employees from receiving permanent early disability retirement pensions through VRS. Why haven’t the local governments who belong to VRS been allowed to participate in the state’s sickness and disability insurance coverage?

See link (click here). “The VSDP focuses on helping you make a safe return to your full duties following your disability. Return-to-work plans, such as job modifications or vocational/medical rehabilitation, may be developed in consultation with your employer and treating healthcare or medical professional to assist in your recovery and return to your regular schedule.”

To elected leaders – its time to cut costs by allowing local governments to join the state’s Virginia Sickness and Disability Program.

Virginia: the right thing for people with disabilities

Justice For All is a blog of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Justice For All recently posted information about the United States Department of Justice brief in support of The Arc of Virginia and the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy case regarding the Southeastern Virginia Training Center. The related portion of the blog states:

“The United States filed a “friend of the court” brief in ARC of Virginia v. Timothy Kaine in Richmond, Virginia, federal district court on November 24th. That brief opposed Virginia’s motion to dismiss a case that challenges the State’s decision to spend millions of dollars to construct a new, large, segregated facility for persons with intellectual disabilities in Chesapeake, Virginia, who could be better served in the community in supported housing.”

To read the blog and for a link to the brief go to –
http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/451

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What about the millions being spent for reconstruction at Central Virginia Training Center?

Remember incoming Governor Elect Bob Mc Donnell is talking about cutting millions in spending on mental health and intellectual disabilities --- so why not also stop the CVTC project?

Lynchburg history: lost in the US Mail?

This blogger followed up on the comment (quoted below) posted on this blog on December 1, 2007. However, unfortunately the information was never received in the US Mail ( i.e. the Post Office apparently lost it).

"I own a business in Virginia Beach, VA called Drop Click. I have a customer that found a bunch of pictures and documents for a "George Preston Glenn" whom you have posted here. Does anyone want this stuff?Thanks,Ted 757-427-5707"

See the original blog post: The right stuff: 42 who died in defense of freedom http://lburgareava.blogspot.com/2005/03/right-stuff-42-who-died-in-defense-of.html

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Had the information been recieved, this blogger would have offered to donate it to the Lynchburg City Museum. Afterall Lynchburg's airport is named "Prestion Glenn Field"

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The information was sent by VA Drop Click to PO Box 216 Lynchburg, VA 24505. Perhaps it was delivered to the wrong PO Box and someone out there has it. If so please send it on. Though this blogger closed the PO Box in July 2009, the Post Office will forward it through June 2010.

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The package was not sent by registered / trackable mail.

Health care debate

It is totally inappropriate to inject what happened in Nazi Germany (i.e. under Hitler) into the American health care dialogue. This is why (click here)

A letter to a US President illustrates the reason why there should be a national apology for this country's egregious legacy of Eugenics as was first requested by advocates (from then President Bush) in 2003 (click here). The passing of Senator Kennedy also brings the focus that the US Congressional Kennedy Commission in its official 1994 findings established the full scope of the Eugenics tragedy on a national scale.

President Obama has an opportunity to issue such a national apology in 2009. As such, Keith Kessler of the Disabled Action Committee recently sent a formal request to President Obama.

It is surprising that the President has not taken the opportunity to point out that he is acting to fulfill part of Martin Luther Kings Jr's dream for the future of America --- "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." April 4, 1967

Talk about judging a book by it's cover!

To all of us who feel like the odd person out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY