Budget Invests in Shared Priorities While Protecting Virginians from Tax Increases
ICYMI: Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a bipartisan budget, investing in shared priorities while protecting hardworking Virginians from tax increases.
The budget makes critical investments for education, teachers, childcare, behavioral health, conservation, and other bipartisan priorities. Governor Youngkin ensured that no new taxes or tax increases on Virginia families were included in the budget.
“This is a big day for Virginia, and I think it’s a big day for a lot of reasons, but one of the most important is to demonstrate to Virginians that their elected officials, who sometimes find themselves very far apart on policy, can come together and deliver,” Governor Youngkin said upon signing the budget.
“This is a big day for Virginia, and I think it’s a big day for a lot of reasons, but one of the most important is to demonstrate to Virginians that their elected officials, who sometimes find themselves very far apart on policy, can come together and deliver.” — Governor… pic.twitter.com/KT9yecAPVY
— Team Youngkin – Spirit of Virginia (@TeamYoungkin) May 13, 2024
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH: General Assembly passes budget with funds for priorities, no tax hike
The General Assembly found a way to compromise with Gov. Glenn Youngkin on tax policy while paying for such priorities as raises for teachers and state employees in a $188 billion two-year budget that the legislature adopted on Monday.
“I think it’s a big day for a lot of reasons, but one of the most important is to demonstrate to Virginians that their elected officials, who sometimes find themselves very far apart on policy, can come together and deliver.”
He said a strong state economy had made it possible to reach agreement on the budget because of the higher-than-expected tax collections that job growth and business investment had generated.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: Virginia governor swiftly signs compromise budget deal
Public schools will get more funding, teachers and other government workers will see a pay bump and Virginia’s tax policy will remain as is under compromise budget legislation the Democratic-led General Assembly sent Monday to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who swiftly signed it.
AXIOS: Lawmakers pass new Virginia budget including 3% raise for teachers
Among the highlights of the budget lawmakers passed, per the Times-Dispatch:
Raises: K-12 teachers, school support staff and all state employees are set to get 3% annual raises each year for the next two years.
Schools: K-12 public schools will see $2.5 billion in new state funding.
Early childhood: Plus, there’s $527.8 million extra for early childhood programs.
Higher-ed: And more than $200 million to cap tuition increases for higher education.
WTVR: New Virginia budget to give funding boost to state mental health services
On Monday, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a budget compromise, a two-year spending plan that gives more funding to public schools, pay raises for teachers and government workers, and keeps Virginia’s tax policy as is.
Mental health services will also get a big boost in spending, in a bipartisan effort to combat the mental health crisis impacting thousands of Virginians across the state.
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