In this Email:


  • A Message from the VRTA President
  • Renew Check Message from Gena
  • Today’s Interest Rates
  • The 2023 GA Session 
  • Important VRTA Dates to Remember

March 2023

President’s Message


VRTA Spring Delegate Assembly

Tuesday April 18 - Wednesday, April 19, 2023


            As time draws near for our annual Spring Delegate Assembly and you contemplate attending, remember all the updated information you received, and the fun you had at the Fall Conference!  Think about the VRS presentation, VRTA Benefits, and the information you heard from State Legislators.  You mingled with friends and enjoyed the reception that was sponsored by AARP.  State President, Joyce Williams arranged a menu that had everyone talking.  Joyce Williams and Jim Dau, the AARP/VRTA State Director are again, sponsoring a reception.


            The Door Prize Patrol has put forth an interesting concept.  These ladies have asked for Districts and Units to donate item that represent their geographical location.  Continue to contact Rose Burgess at 540-989-7414 or Judy McConville at 703-402-8840 to make a door prize contribution.  All donations will be greatly appreciated.  The Marketplace is back.  If your Unit or District is interesting in selling items, contact President-elect, Karen Whetzel at kswhetzel@gmail.com for information.


            The Board of Directors shall elect the Nominating Committee. Members of the Board of Directors shall consist of the President, the President-elect, the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, all past VRTA Presidents, district presidents, and VRTA committee chairpersons. The parliamentarian and the editor of publications shall be ex-officio, non-voting members.  Voting members at the Spring Delegate Assembly will be members of the Executive Committee, District Presidents, Unit Presidents, and two delegates from each local unit.  If a unit has over 100 VRTA member, it shall have an additional delegate for each 50 VRTA members or a fraction thereof.  All voting delegates to the Spring Delegate Assembly must be members of the VRTA. 


            Committee chairs who have business that needs to be addressed before the Executive Committee are asked to contact the President, Jean Marrow at marrow.j@aol.com.  The Executive Committee meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.


            The presentation during the Luncheon promises to be different, informative, and entertaining.  Bea Morris’s Legislative session will offer a format that may spike your interest, as well.  VRTA Benefits Advisor, Jim DuBrueler, will provide updated information, offer advice and answers questions.  Finally, VRS representatives will present updates of the Virginia Retirement System.



            VRTA is in the business of uplifting members as well as keeping them informed.  Do not miss the chance to be present at the Spring Delegate Assembly at the DoubleTree Hotel and see for yourself.  We look forward to seeing you.  March 31 is the deadline for making a hotel reservation and sending in the registration form.  Information is available in the VRTA Spring Newsletter.  The newsletter is posted on vrta.org under the Newsletter Tab.


Jean Marrow

VRTA President

marrow.j@aol.com


Jean Marrow

VRTA President

Phone: 804-350-7719  

Email: marrow.j@aol.com

VRTA Benefits

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  • Retirement Income Planning
  • Pension Survivorship Analysis
  • Portfolio Management

Phone (540) 722-2529

Toll-Free (800) 467 5425

Email: savenow@creeksideadvisors.net

THE 2023 GA SESSION:  HAS IT ENDED?


Virginia operates on a two-year budget cycle.  In 2022, the 60-day long session, a budget was passed that is still in effect.  All the wrangling over the budget this year was about amending that budget.  Various elements combined to put Virginia in the unusual position of having more money to work with than we rarely have had, but the disagreement is over what to do with the money.  In addition to the $4 billion in tax cuts in last year’s budget, the Governor proposes $1billion in tax cuts in these disputed amendments this year.  Some of these cuts would be an increase in the standard income tax deduction for individuals and couples, lowering the corporate tax rate from 6% to 5%, and removing the 55-year-old age requirement for veterans to deduct taxable income in military retirement pay.  Some legislators believe that instead of more tax cuts, this is the time to increase investments in education, mental health, and other things that the state has not been able to afford in the past, although they did agree to make increases in some of these needs: to contribute more toward the VRS liability, to provide funds to school divisions according to the original amount they were told they would receive, to increase the amount for education and mental health, and to contribute to the rainy day fund.  When the budget conferees reach an agreement on these amendments, the Governor will call a special session for GA approval. This could be in a matter of weeks or may even take months.  The Governor and others may not recognize the urgency of compromising and completing this responsibility, but the delay poses a real difficulty for localities.  School boards, city councils, and boards of supervisors have spring deadlines for their budgets in order to offer contracts, etc., and they need to know what state funding will be.


The reconvened session of the GA, sometimes referred to as the veto session, will be April 12, 2023.  At this time the Governor may present amendments to legislation that has passed or veto the legislation.


A big thank you to everyone who contacted legislators during the session, wrote letters to the editor, and worked to be an informed citizen.  Since the regular session is over, it would be good for districts and units as well as individuals to write thank-you letters or notes to local legislators for their work.  Whether we agree with their decisions or not, theirs is a very demanding job.  Letters of appreciation for their service is especially in order for the unusually large number of senators and delegates who have announced that they are leaving their positions at the end of this term. 


Look for information in the April Legislative Spotlight on the changes we will see in the 2024 legislature and how these changes will direct the work of VRTA in the summer and fall.




Bea Morris 


VRTA Legislative Chairperson


Email: beam1340@verizon.net


Important VRTA Dates to Remember

 

April 17-19, 2023: Spring Conference at The Double Tree