RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After months of debate, Virginia lawmakers finally have a budget deal.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Luke Torian (D-Prince William) confirmed the compromise budget will include 3% pay raises for teachers and state employees in each of the next two years. However, the budget doesn’t include a previously-discussed sales tax on digital goods like streaming services.
“We had enough revenue in the first quarter of reporting to cover our spending priorities,” Torian told 8News.
Also not included in the budget is language requiring Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Democrats say the state’s participation would help the environment by working to cap carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Governor Glenn Youngkin is against the multi-state initiative, because he says it will lead to higher electric bills in the Commonwealth.
“That was part of the decision we made in our conference with the governor,” Torian explained.
Also not found in the budget is language to legalize skill games in Virginia.
“The Governor still has a skill games piece of legislation before him that he has not acted upon and it’s incumbent upon the governor to act on that legislation. He has to make a decision if he is going to veto or pass the legislation. He has legislation before him.” said Torian.
Lawmakers will return to Richmond next week to approve the compromise budget, then it will go to Governor Youngkin for his signature.
