VIRGINIA

The Senate voted 29 to 10 in favor of a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would allow counties to approve expensive development projects and incur debt without voter consent, according to an Associated Press report.

The resolution, advanced last week by Sen. Kevin G. Miller, R-Harrisonburg, would remove provisions in the Virginia Constitution guaranteeing voters the right to accept or reject county proposals to borrow money through the issuance of bonds. It also sets a debt ceiling equal to 10% of the assessed value of land in the county.

Miller argued that the measure would put counties on an equal footing with other localities, which lack similar constitutional constraints. "Why shouldn't counties have the same borrowing ability that cities and towns do?" he asked.

A number of local activist groups, ranging from the Conservative Coalition to the Sierra Club's Virginia chapter, have expressed opposition to the measure.

The Legislature would have to pass the resolution in two consecutive years in order to put the issue before state voters in a referendum in November 2002.

Gov. James S. Gilmore 3d vetoed a similar bill passed by the General Assembly last year.