Some state budget items have been spared

After 46 days in Richmond, the 2009 General Assembly has concluded its work on time by approving its amendments to the 2008-10 biennial budget. The budget is now before Gov. Tim Kaine for his approval.

This year, the committee faced an extremely difficult task with continuing decreasing revenues due to a nationwide economic downturn.

Earlier this month, Gov. Kaine presented an updated revenue forecast reducing revenues by an additional $821.5 million over the biennium. Combined with the $2.9 billion reduction in the introduced budget, the shortfall was $3.7 billion.

Fortunately, with the passage of a federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, we did not have to implement any further cuts and were able to restore some earlier reductions.

Here are the highlights of some, but not all, restorations on previous reductions:

- Approximately $1 billion in additional dollars to fund Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes, hospitals, physicians and dentists.

- Aid to localities for public education including school construction, support personnel and other operating costs.

- Additional dollars to higher education to mitigate the need for tuition increases on in-state students, to increase student financial aid and to continue the Tuition Assistance Grant for graduate students in health-related professions.

- Continuation of operations at the Southeastern Virginia Training Center, the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents and the adolescent unit at Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institutes.

- $20 million for deposit into the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund for agricultural best management practices.

- Funding for the Virginia Land Conservation Fund.

- Increase in financial aid to localities with police departments and to regional jails for per diem expenses.

- Dollars for the 14 drug courts throughout the commonwealth that help individuals with drug treatment and recovery.

- Additional funds to maintain community health centers and free clinics, to increase rates for personal care services and to add 200 mental retardation waiver slots.

- State aid to constitutional officers, including clerks of the court, commissioners of the revenue, commonwealth’s attorneys, sheriffs and treasurers.

As I conclude my 26th session in Richmond, I am pleased that the Budget Conference Committee was able to present a responsible and responsive plan representing the best interests of the commonwealth.  The General Assembly will return to Richmond April 8 to hear and to debate amendments and vetoes proposed by Gov. Kaine.

Houck serves Culpeper, Orange, Madison and other localities in the Virginia Senate.