For Release: Oct. 1, 2007
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: tucker.martin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
Attorney General’s Office Voluntarily Cuts Budget 5 Percent
RICHMOND – Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced today that he is voluntarily reducing his Office’s general fund budget 5 percent to assist with reducing the state’s budgetary shortfall.
“As good stewards of the taxpayers’ money during this time of belt-tightening, it is important that the Office of the Attorney General voluntarily reduce our budget,” Attorney General Bob McDonnell said.
The 5 percent cut translates to more than $1.0 million of the total $21.4 million annual general fund budget.
Governor Timothy Kaine has mandated that executive branch agencies cut their general fund budgets by 5 percent. As an independently-elected statewide official, the Attorney General is not required to comply with the Governor’s directive.
The budget reductions to return money to the Commonwealth’s general fund include revising certain business practices and reducing operating expenses.
As part of the reductions, the Attorney General’s Office also will implement a hiring slowdown. The Office also will return funds to the Commonwealth’s coffers, to reduce the state’s budgetary shortfall, by utilizing proceeds from recent litigation and investigative settlements.
“The taxpayers expect their leaders to practice good government, which from time to time includes reviewing our spending and making necessary reductions,” McDonnell said.
