House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight said it was a “bipartisan, bicameral compromise” and retiring Republican Sen. “This budget agreement prioritizes Virginia families, especially our veterans and our children, over the tax cuts that the Republicans wanted to give to big corporations,” House Democratic Leader Don Scott said. Lawmakers also waived the typical requirement that legislation be heard several times before it’s taken up for a final vote.Įvery Assembly seat is up for election this fall, and members of both parties found things to tout in the plan. Wednesday’s proceedings advanced with little substantive debate after lawmakers agreed to a procedural resolution that essentially said floor amendments would not be considered. But it has led to consternation from school districts, local governments and other interests impacted by the state’s taxation and spending policies. ![]() Additionally, this collaborative effort ensured the funding of our shared priorities: investing in students and teachers, supporting our law enforcement community and transforming the way behavioral health care is delivered in the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said.īecause Virginia operates on a two-year budget cycle, with the full plan adopted in even years and tweaked in odd years, this year’s delay in approving the legislation has not impacted state government services or payroll. “While the process took longer than needed, more than $1 billion in tax relief is on the way to Virginia veterans, working families and businesses. But he issued a statement heralding the bill’s passage. Youngkin hasn’t yet said if he will seek changes to the budget as passed, which would mean lawmakers would have to return to Richmond to consider his proposed amendments. The legislation does not address a proposed casino in Richmond, meaning the city can proceed with a planned voter referendum this fall. The commission recently warned that because lawmakers hadn’t acted to effectively renew the program, it was headed for suspension in 2024. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to continue a widely supported reinsurance program that reduced premiums this year. It would allocate $250,000 to establish a Department of Corrections ombudsman within the state’s watchdog agency - something long sought by reform advocates. The combination of tax cuts and increased spending is possible because the state had accumulated a multibillion surplus.Īmong other notable provisions are: $200 million in new resources for economic development-related site acquisitions $62.5 million in additional funding for college financial aid and $12.3 million for the Virginia Employment Commission to help address the unemployment appeals backlog and support call centers. ![]() It includes funding for an extra 2% raise for state workers starting in December, and money for the state’s share of a 2% raise for state-supported local employees, including teachers. The legislation would boost K-12 education spending by about $650 million and fund behavioral health initiatives sought by Youngkin, including new crisis receiving centers and crisis stabilization units. The rebates, which weren’t initially included in either chamber’s budget bill, were a compromise. Democrats who control the state Senate argued that more reductions would be premature after negotiating $4 billion in tax relief last year. Tax policy changes were a key part of what turned into a six-month stalemate, as Youngkin and the GOP-controlled House of Delegates had argued for an additional $1 billion permanent cuts, including a reduction in the corporate tax rate.
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