Last week the Senate and House of Delegates released and approved their respective versions of Virginia's two-year budget. This approval process in done during even-numbered years when the General Assembly meets for 60 days. During the shorter sessions in odd-numbered years amendments are made to the approved budget. 

The Senate's budget was approved by a 38-to-1 bipartisan vote and as a Co-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I am proud to say that it is structurally balanced, reduces state-supported debt, and trims discretionary spending. When adjusted for population growth and inflation, General Fund expenditures have decreased by 5% over the last decade.

These cuts to discretionary spending do not mean that core services are being neglected. In fact, the Senate plan directs more funding to our public schools. It also pays for the state's share of funding for a 2% teacher pay raise that would go into effect this year.   Sheriffs and the State Police also see an increase in funding to address salary compression.

The approved Senate budget is $3 billion less than what Governor McAuliffe proposed. There are no new taxes or tax rate increases in the plan.  And, the Senate budget does not adopt ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion. 

The Senate's approved budget also provides funding to ensure Virginia remains on the forefront of economic growth, workforce development, and job creation. One important example is GO Virginia, a legislative priority I have sponsored for this session. This initiative to encourage and enhance cooperation between business, education, and government entities to grow our economy, would receive nearly $39 million in funding.  New workforce development initiatives received $23 million, including a new program providing tuition assistance to students seeking credentialed or certified education in high-demand fields.

The next step in the budget process is for the House and Senate to work in conference on reconciling differences between the two plans and approve a budget to send to the Governor. 

I have worked to include a number of amendments in the budget that would impact important priorities in our community and across the Commonwealth. Some of the priorities that I introduced amendments for and are in the Senate budget include:

• Project Discovery - This program encourages student to stay in and graduate from high school and provides tools for students to transition to college. A majority of the students in this program are first-generation college students

• AirBnb - Legislation that would allow AirBnbs to operate unregulated in Virginia passed by a one-vote margin in the Senate. I opposed this legislation because it would negate local zoning ordinances, allowing these commercial enterprises to operate without having to meet the same standards required of hotels and traditional bed and breakfasts. The amendment I fought to include in the budget would delay the enactment of this legislation unless it is reenacted by the 2017 General Assembly.  It would also require the Virginia Housing Commission to complete a study on the issue and report back to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee.  It is my hope that, after the study of the implications of this emerging industry, legislators will be able to negate potential negative consequences and retain local authority.

• State Public Libraries - Additional funding was put in to purchase summer reading program materials and STEM instructional materials. After returning from summer break students who participated in summer reading programs at their local public library outperformed those who did not in tests. State aid to public libraries has been reduced over the last 15 years, declining by over $5 million in constant dollars to the level in 1999. 

If you would like to access the full overview of the Senate Finance Committee's proposed amendments to the 2016-2018 Biennial Budget, click  here.

The visitors to Capitol square last week included many friendly faces from home and across the Commonwealth: