Actually, Tim, it’s worse than you think

My friend and fellow VVer Tim Watson is miffed – to say the least – about the fact that the upcoming budget leaves Caroline County without a Circuit Court judge for two years.  Tim found it especially galling that the judgeships are left vacant while over $13 million is set aside for corporate welfare.

As it turns out, it’s actually worse than that.

Here’s the budget language:

Page 26, after line 38 insert:
A.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6:1 or 17.1-507, Code of Virginia, the total number of authorized judges in any judicial district or circuit shall be reduced by a number equal to the number of judges retiring, dying or resigning from that district or circuit for any authorized judgeship which was vacant or became vacant on or after February 15, 2010, and before July 1, 2010, effective upon the resignation, death or retirement date of each such judge.
2. Furthermore, notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6:1 or 17.1-507, Code of Virginia, the total number of authorized judges in any judicial district or circuit shall be reduced by a number equal to the number of judges retiring, dying or resigning from that district or circuit on or after July 1, 2010, and on or before June 30, 2012, effective upon the resignation, death or retirement date of each such judge.

Read the verbiage carefully (emphasis added): “the total number of authorized judges in any judicial district or circuit shall be reduced by a number equal to the number of judges retiring, dying or resigning from that district or circuit for any authorized judgeship which was vacant or became vacant on or after . . .”

In other words, unless I read this wrong, the judgeships don’t just stay vacant; they go away, never to be filled again.  I suppose they could be resurrected in the next budget, but then again, I didn’t think they’d be eliminated in this one.

All for savings of $10.5 million over two years ($4M in FY10, $6.5M in Fy11: see budget language again).

Was the Governor’s Opportuity Fund ($12.1 million) really worth this?  Or the full 100% LCI-”hold harmless” provision ($116.5M), when 96% ($111.9M) would have freed up the money to fund the judges in FY11 (full disclosure, my county – Spotsylvania – came out ahead on the LCI)?

Don’t get me wrong.  I am thrilled that this budget avoided most of the tax increases DNC-Chairman Kaine tried to inflict upon us (although one did survive), but am I really supposed to believe that no one could find $11.3 million (FY10-FY12 savings) necessary to keep the lights on at the courthouse?

Cross-posted to VV

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