(The Center Square) – Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s latest budget amendments promise pay raises and public safety funding, but they also cut wages, health programs and local initiatives, setting off a new round of debate over where Virginia’s priorities should lie.
At the end of the 205 legislative session, lawmakers approved the two-year budget, which contained 515 amendments. The plan passed with overwhelming support before the governor issued his revisions.
The revised spending plan includes $83.1 million for a 1.5% bonus for state and state-supported local employees. State workers will receive the bonus in June, with local government employees following in July.
Additional compensation includes $2.5 million in step increases for Virginia State Police, $1 million for juvenile justice officer raises and $900,000 for 911 dispatcher pay adjustments.
Health and Human Services received a significant boost under the plan, with $824.5 million added across the biennium.
That included $368.1 million to fully fund Medicaid and children’s health insurance program forecasts and $100.3 million to cover growing caseload costs under the Children’s Service Act.
The budget also includes $15 million in grants for drinking water infrastructure through the Virginia Department of Health.
Youngkin’s amendments also include several sizable investments in public safety and infrastructure.
The proposal includes a plan to add $50 million for disaster relief in Southwest Virginia, $5.3 million for School Resource Officer Incentive grants and expanded support for transporting individuals during mental health crises.
Under the proposal, local law enforcement agencies must cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Other allocations include $50 million in new school construction grants, bringing the total to $610 million, and $20 million in credit for runway upgrades at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. The governor also proposed $1.5 million to transition EBT cards to chip technology to reduce benefit fraud.
President and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, Ashley C. Kenneth, criticized the decisions to eliminate proposed funding to increase the minimum wage, calling it a missed opportunity to support low-wage workers. “This action dismisses an opportunity to protect Virginia’s workers and ensure a more fair wage,” she said.
Kenneth also voiced concerns over removing funding for public health facilities and violence prevention programs. “The governor’s amendments could erase years of progress by reducing incentives for good behavior and participation in rehabilitation programs.”
After signing 599 bills and vetoing 158, the governor returned with 2025 budget amendments and eight line-item vetoes. The General Assembly will meet on April 2 to take up Youngkin’s amendments and vetoes.
