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Virginia Attorney General makes budget cuts
Claiming it as a response to significant budgetary difficulties facing the Commonwealth of Virginia, Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced Thursday a general fund budget cut of 9.1% at the Office of the Attorney General. As part of this effort the Attorney General is voluntarily returning his official state car to the Commonwealth of Virginia and reducing his salary.Speaking about the action, Attorney General McDonnell noted, “With a potential $3 billion shortfall looming these reductions represent a small part of any solution, but as stewards of taxpayers money it is important that we do our part. We have taken prudent but aggressive management actions to streamline operations without affecting service to our clients.”
The total two-year budget of the Office of the Attorney General is $72,044,048, a portion of which is state general funds and subject to these budget cuts by the Attorney General. The remaining amounts are non-general funds and come from other sources, primarily the federal government. Last year McDonnell ordered a voluntary 5% cut in the Office of the Attorney General general fund budget.
The Attorney General is provided a leased 2005 Ford Explorer. According to McDonnell's office, the voluntary return of this vehicle will save more than $5,000 over the course of McDonnell’s term.
Along with McDonnell, 10 of his executive attorneys also voluntarily reduced their salaries by 2% for the next six months. This will result in $17,000 in budget savings, his office claims.
Other steps taken by the office include: establishing a hiring freeze, leaving current vacant positions unfilled, reducing reimbursement rates for travel, and eliminating some fax machines and phone lines.
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