Program Makes Good Fiscal Sense, He Says

GOVERNOR PROPOSES RESTORING DRUG COURT PROGRAM TO BUDGET

Mark Warner Must Find Funds For Next Year, But Said The Programs "Will
Remain A Priority."

RICHMOND - Gov. Mark Warner wants state lawmakers to restore most of the
money they tried to cut from drug court programs, including the one that
serves the Roanoke Valley.

Warner said Monday that he has included funding for drug courts in the
$30.6 million package of budget amendments he will send to the General
Assembly. Lawmakers will act next week on the governor's proposed changes
to the two-year, $50.1 billion spending plan they passed last month.

Warner also signaled his support for a seven-year, $1.6 billion bond
package to fund construction projects at college campuses and state parks.
The package includes $123.2 million in projects at Virginia Tech and $37.4
million at Radford University. Voters would have to approve more than half
of the total debt in a fall referendum .

The Democratic governor proposed few major changes to the budget passed by
the Republican-controlled General Assembly. He gave lawmakers high marks
for crafting a balanced spending plan while facing cumulative revenue
shortfall of $3.8 billion over the next 27 months.

"We have started to restore fiscal integrity to the commonwealth in a
manner that is as fair and equitable as possible," Warner said in a news
conference at the Capitol.

Warner delighted Roanoke Valley lawmakers from both parties by moving to
restore $2.1 million to drug court programs, which offer nonviolent drug
offenders addiction treatment, community service and other alternatives to
prison.

"I'm very pleased about that," said House of Delegates Majority Leader
Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.

Warner met last week with advocates for drug courts, including Roanoke
County Circuit Judge Diane Strickland. Strickland helped launch the state's
first drug court program - now the state's largest - in 1995.

Strickland said that she, Richmond Circuit Judge Margaret Spencer and
Fredericksburg Commonwealth's Attorney Charles Sharp met April 1 with
Warner, his chief of staff and his chief lawyer to discuss the merits of
drug courts.

"And actually, we didn't have to do a whole lot of explaining," Strickland
said.

The governor asked how much money the program would need to get by in the
fiscal year that begins July 1. Strickland said Warner gave them exactly
what they requested.

Advocates of drug courts say the programs cost less than incarceration and
reduce the likelihood of repeat offenses.

"I think they built a very good case that these were dollars well spent,"
Warner said. "Keeping those folks in an alternative to full incarceration
made good common sense and good fiscal sense."

Warner and lawmakers still must find funds to support drug courts in the
second year of the budget cycle, but the governor said the programs "will
remain a priority."

Since early March, people charged with drug and drug-related crimes in
Roanoke County have not had the option to try drug court. That will remain
the case until at least April 17, when the legislature decides whether to
approve the funding Warner proposed, Strickland said.

Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, said lawmakers now have a greater
appreciation for the merits of drug courts and should support Warner's
amendment. Edwards said Strickland played a vital role in persuading Warner
to support drug courts.

Warner said he found money for his budget amendments by shifting dollars
from other budget areas, tapping some reserve funds and transferring cash
that had been set aside for two building projects in the Virginia
Department of Transportation.

Warner's budget amendments also include an additional $2 million in
financial aid at public colleges, a move designed to help qualified
students cope with tuition increases.

The bond package endorsed by Warner includes a $1 billion debt
authorization that would require voter approval in November. Another $600
million in state-supported bonds would accelerate construction of
high-priority projects and fully finance others put on hold last year after
lawmakers failed to balance the current two-year budget that expires June 30.

"This is a giant leap forward in terms of ensuring that there is a stable,
predictable source of funding for our capital needs, particularly in higher
education," Warner said.

The short-term package contains $20.4 million in immediate funding for the
second phase of Tech's bioinformatics complex and immediate funding to
complete the on-again, off-again renovation of Peters Hall at Radford.

Warner said he will campaign for the long-term bond package this fall, but
called on others to take the lead in rallying support for the measure.

"You're going to need to have advocates for higher education and advocates
for parks and natural resources step up and build their case this fall and
I'm anxious to be supportive," he said.