Virginia budget leaders reach compromise with governor on state spending plan

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia budget negotiators and Gov. Glenn Youngkin have reached a compromise on the next two-year state spending plan that would include 3% raises for state employees and teachers while not raising taxes and risking a potential veto by Youngkin.

House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian confirmed Thursday that the General Assembly’s budget leaders have reached a deal with Youngkin that they hope lawmakers will approve during a special session scheduled to begin on Monday.

Youngkin’s press secretary, Christian Martinez, said in a statement that Youngkin “looks forward to finishing the work to deliver on our collective priorities for all Virginians next week.”

Details of the new spending plan won’t be available to lawmakers or to the public until Saturday. Torian told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the agreement includes additional state revenues to pay for Democratic spending priorities, including the raises for teachers and state employees, as well as money to restrain increases in tuition for state universities and colleges, help people with mental illness and pay for increased costs to Virginia’s Medicaid program.

“All of our spending priorities are intact,” Torian said.

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