Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The panel of eight senior lawmakers - four from each chamber - restored funding for many of the items Gov. George Allen wanted to slash in the two-year, $32 billion budget.
The budget conferees met their midnight deadline for striking a deal on the budget amendments, which the General Assembly will vote on before adjourning Saturday.
``Both houses started down this path with very similar budget priorities,'' said Del. Robert Ball, D-Richmond, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. ``Much of our work was directed at restoring the spending plan, which was adopted last year with broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate.''
The Senate and the House already had agreed to restore most of the $403 million Allen wanted to cut to pay for prisons and the first installment on his doomed tax cuts. Among the items that were not in dispute were $50 million for higher education and $16.5 million for a 2.25 percent raise for state employees.
However, there were a few differences in the House and Senate spending priorities. In most cases, the conferees adopted the position of the chamber that restored the most money.
For example, the negotiators agreed to restore $12.3 million for the Virginia Agricultural Extension Service and agricultural research. That was the figure favored by the House. The Senate had restored $10.3 million.
The conferees also went along with a House recommendation in restoring $7.4 million for general relief - a form of temporary assistance for people who need help but don't qualify for welfare. The Senate budget contained $4 million.
One of the widest gaps was in a public housing and indoor plumbing program: $8.6 million in the House version, $2.4 million in the Senate bill. The conferees settled on $8.2 million.
The conferees put back into the budget $2 million, as recommended by the House, for public radio and television. The Senate had proposed $1 million.
The panel agreed to give the state yacht, the Chesapeake, to the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission for use in law enforcement, economic development and public health and safety on the Eastern Shore. Allen had proposed selling the vessel.
Among the other items restored by the conferees include:
$10 million for local police departments.
$8.8 million for health insurance for poor children.
$2.5 million for the Center for Innovative Technology.
$6.6 million for Community Services Boards, which serve the mentally disabled.
$3.1 million in library aid.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB