Va. Lawmakers pass $77 billion budget, but the work's not done

RICHMOND

The General Assembly passed a $77 billion two-year state budget late Thursday and belatedly gaveled its 2008 session to close.

But legislators won’t be gone for long.

Lawmakers agreed to hold two special sessions next month to take up some thorny issues that eluded them this winter: financing transportation projects, the appointment of judges and construction on college campuses.

The sessions will be held on both sides of a routine meeting slated on April 23 for the General Assembly to consider Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s vetoes and amendments to bills that were passed this winter.

Lawmakers will convene a special session in late April to vote on a borrowing package largely for college building projects.

The House wants to issue $1.2 billion in bonds; the Senate wants to borrow about $2 billion. Negotiators from the two chambers hope to reach a compromise in the coming weeks.

A vote on multiple judicial vacancies across the state could also be taken at that time.

The Assembly is also expected to renew its debate on how to pay for large transportation projects that would address congestion in two of Virginia’s major population centers.

Last month, the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated major parts of a year-old General Assembly plan that allowed non-elected regional transportation authorities to raise taxes in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

Republican delegates from the two congested areas crafted an emergency transportation plan, but decided not to introduce it on Thursday. The legislation, they said, had no chance of passing the Senate, where leaders wanted to give the issue more deliberate consideration.

The House plan would have raised the sales tax in Hampton Roads by as much as one-cent on the dollar. The levy, if imposed by all 12 cities and counties in the region, would raise $153.8 million a year for roads.

Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, urged the House to act quickly on roads, saying each day of delay escalates the total cost of Virginia projects by $2 million. He said congestion has hurt the quality of life in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. “Please, please, if we’re willing to fix our problems with money from our own area, let us do it,” Cosgrove implored his colleagues during a floor speech.

Del. Johnny S. Joannou, D-Portsmouth spoke against raising taxes. “We’ve got a lot of people living on retirement income of $1,000 a month,” he said. “What about those people?”

Democrats, who hold a majority in the Senate, said the budget negotiations were as tough as they could recall, but praised final document.

“This year our task was complicated by the scarcity of new resources and the need to make deep cuts,” said Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Prince William, who noted that the budget provides money for mental health programs, expanded preschool and foster care and adoption services.

Due to a tight economy, the state reduced its overall support to local governments by $50 million – roughly 5 percent. State agencies will have to cut spending by $17 million.

Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com