By
Olympia Meola
Published: March 1, 2010
he grungy office space, used supplies and limited freshening of the official gubernatorial quarters paid off.
Gov. Bob McDonnell's transition team has saved at least double its $40,000 goal during the switch from campaigning to governing.
Early estimates indicate McDonnell conserved about $80,000 of a $353,600 transition budget.
That $80,000 -- enough to cover the average salary of two
entry-level teachers -- will revert to the general fund if not used by
June 30. That's the same general fund that lawmakers are trying to plug
through $4 billion in cuts.
"We tried to be creative, cut out what we didn't need, and looked
for new ways of doing things and covering costs," McDonnell said. "It
added up to some saved dollars, and I appreciate what our team was able
to do."
Since taking office, the governor also has cut the salaries of his
Cabinet secretaries, and his own, for a period of time as a cost-saving
measure.
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/TRAN01_20100228-214405/327490/