McDonnell Adds $44 Million To Va. Budget

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has added nearly $44 million in amendments to the state budget passed by the General Assembly last month.

McDonnell submitted the amendments before the Friday midnight deadline to make changes to the two-year, $85 billion budget.

As part of the proposed changes, McDonnell restored $19.5 million in economic development funding and preserved nearly $881 million in new funding for K-12 and higher education. He also proposed an additional $2.7 million in funding to recruit teachers in science, math and technology disciplines and to fully fund a third-grade reading program.

To pay for the amendments, the governor is has proposed transferring an unused portion of a previous debt allocation to new capital project, transferring certain year-end balances, and spending cuts.

The General Assembly will reconvene May 14 to take up the governor's amendments.