Councilmen Brad Ellis and Fred Howe were in Richmond together Thursday to lobby state legislators on declining police funding, eminent domain legislation and increases to the Virginia Retirement System.

Ellis said he appreciated the words of Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, who said that it is vital that public officials inform state legislators on the impacts proposed legislation might have on their localities.

“It is critical to hear form us. That was comforting to hear,” Ellis said. “Otherwise, they are not going to get heard.”

Ellis and Howe support legislative action to eliminate some local mandates, an effort led by Gov. Bob McDonnell, who created a task force to recommend unfunded mandates that the state could do away with.

“We are in a steady state of declining revenues and increasing expenses. It is a way to reduce our expenses,” he said.

The two councilmen expressed concerns about the proposed changes to the Virginia Retirement System to increase the out-of-pocket share that teachers and other government employees have to pay into the retirement system. Fredericksburg Schools Superintendent David Melton presented the fiscal year 2013 budget earlier this week that earmarked $1.4 million—a 6.85-percent increase— for VRS. He presented an unbalanced budget with a $465,000 deficit. Ellis, whose wife is a teacher, said the city cannot afford to use taxpayer money to pay for all employee pensions.

“However, what we don’t want to do is essentially institute what would amount to a 5-percent pay cut,” he said. “What we want is for that to be phased in at 1 percent a year for five years. Everybody has to pay their own retirement. Localities still put money into the VRS, it is just requiring the employees themselves to put some skin in as well.”

Ellis and Howe, as well as other council members, are very concerned about House Bill 1035, which would force local governments to pay businesses for lost profits in eminent domain cases. Before the legislation can become law, two General Assemblies must approve it, and all indications so far are that the amendment will pass this year. Council’s concern is that this legislation could stifle local transportation projects and cost localities much more in the end.

“What do you define as loss of business?” Ellis said. “What we don’t want to occur is, for example, if we have a Christmas parade or an Ocotoberfest and we shut down Caroline Street, we don’t want every business suing the council for lost business. The language has to be redesigned and that is where the work is right now.”

Both councilmen spoke directly with Speaker of the House Bill Howell about funding for constitutional officers. The city’s constitutional officers are the sheriff, commissioner of revenue, commonwealth’s attorney and treasurer. The state is supposed to pay the salaries of these officers but the amounts have decreased over time and localities have had to make up the difference. More and more constitutional officers are asking the local governing bodies for money to run their offices instead of going to the state. Ellis said they asked if some of these constitutional offices could be combined, such as the commissioner of revenue and treasurer.

“The state either needs to fund it or say it is not needed or consolidate some of these positions,” Ellis said.

The final concern Ellis and Howe shared with state legislators is the declining funds for the police department through the “599 program.” State code requires the General Assembly to provide funding for police departments in 39 cities, nine counties and 127 towns through the Department of Criminal Justice Services. To qualify, the police department must get certified each year. The funds are not to be used to supplant local funding, but supplement it. The funding from this program has trended downward each year and council members fear the program won’t be around much longer. The city gets about $700,000, down from about $900,000.

“We need to start thinking of how we fund our police and not rely as heavily on 599 funds. We need to wean off it,” Ellis said.