Virginia averts shutdown after Youngkin signs budget into law

Virginia lawmakers averted a shutdown in the commonwealth by agreeing to, and passing into law, a budget for the state after gridlock earlier in the year.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) signed a budget into law on Monday that compromised with Democratic leadership in the state House and Senate. Youngkin was able to prevent any increases to taxes, while Democrats were able to secure boosts to education funding, among other items in the two-year budget.

“This is an important day for Virginia. While Virginians’ elected officials can sometimes be far apart on policy, today demonstrates and reiterates that we can come together to deliver for the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement on Monday.

“This budget resolution was empowered by the strength of our labor market, with more Virginians working than ever before and investments by businesses large and small, that have fueled record revenues for the Commonwealth,” the governor said.

Democratic House Appropriations Committee Chair Luke Torian heralded the budget as proof of “dedication and collaboration from my colleagues in the House, Senate of Virginia, and the Governor,” while Democratic Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Chairwoman L. Louise Lucas said the budget will “provide for a stronger Virginia.”

“We had to accept some compromises, but the Senate will continue towards modernizing our tax code and fund educational opportunities for every student,” Lucas said in a statement Monday.

The compromise was announced last week, with details being released over the weekend.

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Wins for Youngkin in the budget included rejecting a proposed tax on digital downloads, while in a win for northern Virginia officials, the state will help fund Metro’s budget gap rather than making northern Virginia use its transit and transportation safety funds.

The compromise comes after Youngkin and Democrats engaged in a war of words over each other’s proposed budgets and after Democrats killed the governor’s plan to build an arena in Alexandria, Virginia, to lure the Washington Wizards and Capitals out of downtown Washington.