From the office of Delegate David Toscano (D-57)

RICHMOND, VA - In response to the recent dispute between Charlottesville and Albemarle County about school funding and the 1982 revenue sharing agreement, Delegate David Toscano (D-Charlottesville) has called for a meeting of the elected officials from both jurisdictions to discuss the future of City and County cooperation.

"Representing both jurisdictions puts me in a unique position to facilitate discussions that may move us to a higher level of cooperation," said Toscano.

Toscano's proposal arrives in the midst of discussion about a General Assembly budget amendment that would take $2.6 million from the Charlottesville direct school funding and give it to Albemarle County. The amendment would change the Local Composite Index formula for Albemarle County to account for revenue transferred annually to Charlottesville-$18 million this year-as part of the 1982 Revenue Sharing Agreement. This agreement, which was endorsed by the voters in each jurisdiction, provides that the City would not annex valuable parts of the County in exchange for both jurisdictions sharing in the revenues generated by growth in both jurisdictions.

"There is no doubt that residents in Albemarle County are concerned about the size of the transfers going to the City of Charlottesville," said Toscano. "This concern is not likely to go away and should be addressed directly. Our community dialogue should focus on how best to cooperate to provide better services at reasonable costs to both jurisdictions."

Toscano opposes the proposed budget amendment, stating that he feels it is an unprecedented interference by the General Assembly into local affairs. "This budget amendment would never have been suggested but for the amount of money that is being transferred through the Revenue Sharing Agreement.

"The formula for the Composite Index was in place for years prior to the approval of the Agreement and both jurisdictions undoubtedly knew that the money would likely rise to this large amount over time. That does not mean that the County is not justifiably concerned, and that concern must be addressed in some fashion."

Toscano has written a letter to each member of the Board of Supervisors and City Council, and to each member of the respective school boards. He plans to have the meeting as soon as the General Assembly adjourns.

"My hope is that people come to the table thinking about a wide variety of options, and they may develop some approaches that will bring us closer together instead of driving us further apart."

(Electronic mail, February 19, 2010)