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OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT <br />RO. BOX 5548 <br /> MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA 24115 <br /> (540) 632-6313 <br /> <br /> December 3, 2003 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Martinsville/Henry County State Legislative Delegation <br /> <br />Ira R. Trollinger, SuperintendenL.r--~ <br /> <br />Legislative Priorities for 2004 <br /> <br /> The following state legislative items are of key importance to the <br />Martinsville City Schools for the 2004 calendar year. The Martinsville City School Board urges <br />your support of the key issues listed below. <br /> <br />1. Oppose the Virginia Retirement System's recommendation to separate the contribution <br />rates for state employees from teachers and increase the contribution rate for teachers <br />from the current 3.77 percent to 8.10 percent. Since 2000, the Virginia Retirement System <br />has pooled the contribution rates for state employees and teachers. This was done to save state <br />general fund and local dollars. The VRS Board has proposed to separate the contribution rates <br />for state employees and teachers. They also have proposed a contribution rate for teachers from <br />the current 3.77 pement to 8.10 percent. It is estimated that, if approved by the General <br />Assembly, this proposal will increase the Martinsville City School Board contribution to VRS by <br />$500,000, not factoring in any pay increases next year. This would place a tremendous burden <br />on the local government. <br /> <br />2. Maintain the school construction grants program and the integrity of the Literary F. und <br />for school construction loans. During times of economic hardships for the Martinsville area, <br />the Martinsville City Council has continued to invest in our school facilities. During the past <br />seven years, three of the six schools have been renovated and air conditioned. With the help of <br />the Literary Fund, a total of twelve and a half million dollars has been borrowed to renovate <br />Martinsville Middle and Albert Harris Intermediate Schools. The school construction grants of <br />approximately $280,000 per year were being used to help repay the loans. In the 2002-2003 <br />school year the construction funds were reduced by 50%. The Martinsville City School Board <br />lost approximately $140,000 for each year from the state. We need the school construction <br />grants program to continue. When state programs are reduced, the burden falls on the local <br />government to find additional resources. <br /> <br /> <br />