For Virginia's Sake: Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Did you know that Virginia’s tax code, basically set in 1926, had its last significant update thirty years ago AND that the lowest 20% of Virginians pay 10.4% of their income in state taxes, and the upper 1% only pay 4.6% (Center for Budget and Policy Priorities). For Virginia’s Sake, we need to ask questions about equitable tax distribution relative to the present time. Information provided by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (www.vicpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that other than one 10% increase in 2000, temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) payments have not increased since 1985 AND that 28% of Virginia families do not earn an income sufficient to adequately provide for their families (Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy). For Virginia’s Sake, we need to ask questions about providing cash benefits (TANF), when combined with other key benefits, that raises working families at least to the Federal Poverty Level. Information provided by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (www.vicpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that Virginia has a 24-month time limit for TANF recipients subject to work requirements AND that 79% of former recipients who have exhausted their TANF eligibility have income at or below the Poverty Line; 35% have income at or below 50% of the Poverty Line. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about time limits for TANF recipients. Information provided by the Virginia Poverty Law Center (www.vplc.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that the high cost of compliance with programs designed to help the low-income working families (complicated paperwork, frequent recertification, requirements to appear in person during working hours) often means that many families do not access the services AND that Virginia's food stamp participation ranks 31st nationally, and that only 58% of those eligible actually receive food stamps. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about the accessibility of programs to help low-income working families. Information provided by Voices for Virginia's Children (www.vakids.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that more than one million Virginians do not have health insurance AND that the uninsured are five times more likely than those with insurance to go without needed care and four times mores likely to rely on emergency rooms for medical care. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about health coverage and the impact of not having health insurance has upon working Virginians. Information provided by the Office of Justice and Peace, Catholic Diocese ( www.richmonddiocese.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that unlike 27 states and Washington, DC, Virginia’s sales tax is applied to food AND that one third of state and local tax revenue, 28%, comes from a regressive sales tax where low-income families spend a higher percentage of their income on the consumption of taxable goods. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about regressive food tax structures that put a heavy burden on low-income families. Information provided by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that in 2002, the average state and local tax burden on the poorest fifth of families, after federal deduction offset, was 9% AND that the tax burden on the wealthiest top 1 percent was 4.8%. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about regressive tax structures that are neither just nor equitable. Information provided by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that in 2002, among 42 states with income taxes, Virginia levies the fourth-highest income tax ($497) on single-parent families of three at 125% of the Poverty Line ($17,939) AND that only Alabama, Hawaii, and Kentucky levy higher income taxes on such families (17 states exempt such families entirely from the income tax). For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about income tax on single parent families who struggle to make ends meet. Information provided by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that if a Virginia family has an income of $18,100, they owe $0 in income tax, AND that if a family has an income of $18,101 (just $1 more), they owe Virginia the full amount of Virginia income tax. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about an equitable tax structure in Virginia. Information provide by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that Virginia has a potential deficit in the next biennium (FY 2005 and FY 2006) of over $2 billion, where education in K-12 will be under-funded by $535 million and higher education will be under-funded by $381 AND that higher education tuition and fees have increased an average of 20% over the last two years (the University of Virginia tuition increased 19% in one year). For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about the importance of our education system and its impact upon Virginia's future. Information provided by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that a two-parent family with both parents working full-time at a minimum wage job makes $21,400 a year before taxes AND that if they save 10% of their income for child care, they still would be several thousand dollars short of what they would need to afford average priced child care. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about enabling parents to afford adequate childcare. Information provided by Voices for Virginia’s Children (www.vakids.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that it costs an average of $33,000 to hospitalize an abused child AND it costs only $3,000 to provide an at-risk family with a home visitor to teach them parenting skills for one year. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about the lack of funds to expand existing home visitor programs in Virginia. Information provided by Voices for Virginia's Children (www.vakids.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that the federal guidelines allow subsidies for families whose income is up to 85% of the state median income (SMI) while Virginia allows (depending region of the state) up to 37-49% of the SMI AND that only half the number of children are for subsidies eligible by Virginia standards who would be eligible under federal standards. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about the eligibility requirements of families for subsidies in Virginia. Information provided by Voices for Virginia’s Children (www.vakids.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that tooth decay is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Children living in poverty suffer twice as much tooth decay as their more affluent peers, and their disease is more likely go untreated AND that fewer than 30% of Medicaid eligible children have at least one dental visit per year. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about dental care of Virginia's children. Information provided by Voices for Virginia's Children (www.vakids.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org

Did you know that as many as 97,000 children and youth in Virginia suffer from serious emotional disturbance AND that fewer than one-third of children with mental health problems receive the treatment they need, leading to higher risk for school failure, dropping out, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity. For Virginia's Sake, we need to ask questions about how we can make mental health treatment more accessible for children and their families. Information provided by Voices for Virginia's Children (www.vakids.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org

Did you know that funding was eliminated in 2002 for Pre-release and Post-incarceration Service providers (PAPIS), AND that out of Offender Aid & Restoration's (OAR) 3,687 pre- and post-release clients served last fiscal year, 31% reported they were homeless either before incarceration or after release; 73% reported they were unemployed; 78% who were employed reported an annual income of less than $10,000; 40% had less than a GED or high school diploma; 73% reported a history of substance abuse; and 50% were the parent of at least one minor child. For Virginia's Sake we need to ask questions about funding for programs that help prevent incarceration and recidivism and equip former offenders with skills to successfully reintegrate into society. Information provided by OAR (www.oarric.org). For additional information, please visit www.ForVirginiasSake.org.

Did you know that Virginia ranks 46th in the nation in the percentage of its state budget attributed to Medicaid spending WHILE Virginia ranks 12th in the nation in per capita income? Medicaid eligibility and reimbursement levels in Virginia are very low compared to other states. Given that the federal government matches Virginia general fund monies for Medicaid on almost a 50/50 basis and given that health insurance is a major determinant of access to care, For Virginia�s Sake, we need to ask questions about adequately funding the Virginia Medicaid program in order to care for our most vulnerable citizens. Information provided by Virginia Association of Free Clinics (www.vafreeclinics.org).