Evening star., 1942-03-16
Virginia Budget
Aids Teachers,
State Staff
Millions Provided
For Retirement
And War Bonus
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, March 16. -
Stats employees and school teachers
will benefit by millions of dollars
under new legislation written by the
1919 General Assembly.
The low-salaried State workers
plight in this era of rising living
costs persuaded the lawmakers to
dip into the general fund surplus to
the extent of $4,000 for a "war
bonus" that viii be payable in six
month il1stalments, tl1e first Of
watch is to be distributed in July.
This. $21s SOC, 900 biennial budget
bill, the largest in Virginia history,
carries funds. to boost the State con-
tributfOn for teachers salaries to
$720 per teacher unit in 1884,
which will mark the achievement of
one phase Of the Virginia Education
associations "three-point" school
program. The present rate of State
contribution is $6f0.
Retirement System Provided.
In addition, an aetuarially sound
retirement system was provided for
both teachers and State workers,
carrying out a second part of the
three point" plan.
These were but a few of the ac-
complishments of the session that
ended Saturday night with the State
budget continued in balance, the
great majority of the recommends
tions of Gov. Darden enacted and
many other important pieces Of
legislation on the books
The war bonus" amounting to
10 per cent on the first $1,000 of
income and per cent on the second
$1,000, provided the boosts do not
carry total compensation beyond
81 400 year, was voted for the two
year period ending with 1914, al
though the Governor will have
authority to terminate the payments
If living costs drop. The bonus will
be retroactive to January !.
Plan Was Broadened.
The retirement plan was broad
ened by an amendment by Senator
Garland Gray of Sussex to include
State workers who are paid on an
hourly or daily basis. The original
bill would have provided only for
salaried employees.
Delegate c. c. Louderback of Page,
one of the patrons on the bill, which
viii provide for voluntary retirement
at age IS and compulsory retirement
at 10, listed these major changes in
the measure as passed, compared
with the original draft:
The maximum retirement allow
ance will be $1,000 q year instead
Of 81 200.
Teachers will be guaranteed re-
tirement annuity at an amount at
least equal to that they would have
enjoyed under the present system
including those who retire because
of disability.
I Teachers who now are retired are
assured Of their present allowances.
Will Be Given Credit.
Teachers who are members of the
present system will be given credit
on their annuity savings fund, with
regular interest, for the entire
amount they have paid into the
system, which means that if they
remain in service until retirement
their annuity will be appreciably
increased. This provision was added
at the suggestion of Gov. Darden.
Prior service will be counted from
the time of entering service in
stead of age Is as provided in the
original bill.
A part of the accrued liability
under the bill will be absorbed by
the employees instead of entirely by
the state.
The funds of teachers and State
employees will be kept separate.
Can Stay Until War Ends.
Employees now at retirement age
will be permitted to remain in the
service until the end of the war,
provided the heads of their depart
ments request their continuance.
Present employees will have $50
days from the effective date of the
act (July u to decide whether they
wish to become members. If they
later desire to enter the system
they may do so, but will forfeit all
prior service credit.
Thousands of motorists soon will
become aware of at least two of
the Legislatures enactments. One
reduces automobile speed limits
from IS to IS miles an hour, as well
as buses from SO to IS and trucks
from As to 40. This act will be-
come effective 30 days after 1t is
signed by the Governor.
License Fee Refunds.
The second bill of special note
to motorists may save them money.
It is the Bernard C. Goodwin bill
permitting pro-rata refunds on
license fees If tires wear out and
cannot be replaced because of the
rationfng program.
Delegate Goodwin expressed the
belief the bill would have the effect
of retaining for the State perhaps
81 ,000, 900 which he felt might other
wise be lost by motor vehicle owners
not taking out new licenses. High
way officials, however, held a diff
ferent view and thought the act
might tend to reduce revenues.
Many bills didn't make the grade.
One was the bill to revise taxes on
co-operatives, which died In the
hands of a committee of conference.
Another was the Glass-Goode bill
authorizing the zoning of airport
anrrnacheS which WAS Killed On