Virginia lawmakers are in Richmond to vote on a compromise state budget. The spending plan would offer billions in tax relief, increase pay for teachers and other public employees, and fund a wide range of projects from roadwork to school construction. Lawmakers will be back at the Capitol in a special session because they deadlocked over the spending plan as their regular calendar drew to a close in March. They opted then to extend talks, which have been happening privately among a handful of negotiators. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin says the compromise offered a “good framework” and is urging lawmakers to pass it quickly.
The budget also paves the way for redeveloping the former Central Virginia Training Center property in Madison Heights. It includes $25 million to pay off the center’s remaining debt. Lynchburg Senator Steve Newman helped get the money in the budget:
Amherst County supervisors have approved a redevelopment plan to turn the hundreds of acres into future mixed commercial and residential uses.