The Senate passed its version of the Budget Bill during a Tuesday evening floor session.
After receiving an updated revenue estimate from the Governor, the Senate passed a budget that spends the $4.225 billion the state is projected to take in and does not increase taxes.
The bill includes a $34.1 million cut to Medicaid, which equates to a $136 million cut in terms of federal matching dollars lost. The budget measure also cuts higher education by $33 million, an amount that is spread across most of the state’s public colleges and universities.
The legislation does not include a teacher pay raise and provides no money for the Governor’s SOS fund.
The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Also, on Tuesday, the Senate assigned conferees to work out the differences in the public employee furlough bill (HB106). The House version provides for back pay when the furloughed employees return, while the Senate version does not.
The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow at 11 a.m.
