McDonnell Returns Car, Slashes Budget

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) announced today that he will return his state car, reduce his salary by two percent and trim his office budget by nine percent following this week's news of a possible $3 billion state budget shortfall.

"These are difficult times,'' he said. "This economic downturn, and sustained uncertainty, is forcing Virginia families and businesses to make hard decisions, and Virginia's government must do likewise."

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will begin implementing the statewide cuts early next month after releasing the state's new forecast for the rest of the two-year, $77 billion budget period that began July 1.

Ten executive attorneys in McDonnell's office will join him in reducing their salaries by two percent for the next six months. McDonnell earns $150,000 a year.

The office's two-year budget is $72-million, a portion of which is state general funds and subject to the cuts.The return of a leased 2005 Ford Explorer will save $5,000, and the salaries will save $17,000, according to McDonnell's office.

Later in the day, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) announced that he will trim 7.5 percent from his budget, which is less than $1-million over two years.

"Certainly tough decisions lie ahead,'' Bolling said. "However, these challenges also present us with an opportunity to look for further efficiencies in state government and implement other strategies to assure that we are spending the taxpayers' money more effectively."