In fact, the proposed spending plan would pump so much money into reserves leaving them at nearly $3.9 billion, or almost 17 percent of state revenue that the General Assembly would have to authorize the state to exceed legal limits on the amount of cash held in reserve. Bishop says the administration did not agree but said that telework requests for those in need would be liberally granted. But the reality is only a few lawmakers were in the room. Members of the Virginia Governmental Employees Association (VGEA) team attended the opening of the Virginia General Assembly session on January 11, 2023, as the 45-day session officially gaveled in. We occasionally hear stories that some state employees and human resources managers believe that the VGEA is a union. This was a ceremonial signing because the actual budget documents arent fully prepared. Exempts $40,000 of veteran retirement income tax for veterans over 55. Glenn Youngkins new policy limiting telework, with one unnamed respondent describing it as chaos., It comes as the Virginia Government Employees Association is asking the administration to delay implementation to Sept. 12, 2022, giving employees more time to address childcare and commuting needs. . State budget hits Youngkin's desk and more Virginia headlines. Youngkin campaigned on eliminating the grocery tax and providing one-time rebates, but also called for a sharp increase in the states standard deduction, which would amount to a broad cut for all taxpayers. This amendment directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to collect information from Community Services Boards and the Behavioral Health Authority on employee compensation to assist in developing a proposal to address compensation issues to be considered in the 2023 Session. Will it happen? Plaintiff in skill games case blasts budget re-write of state code dealing with skill games; says its an attempt to circumvent court rulings. But to some, just hearing the word union is scary. Jun. I hope that without delay there will be a signature on the budget and that way we can move forward, and I hope that we will not have to go through more politics, more amendments, even a potential veto, Rasoul said. Again, the VGEA doesnt anticipate that the budget will change significantly from the proposed compromise released on May 29, 2022, but it remains a possibility. The amendment also adjusts funding to reflect a July 10, 2022 effective date. VGEA lobbyist, Dylan D. Bishop, reviewed the proposed budget in detail and provided the portions that are pertinent to VGEA members.. The VGEA team shared what theyve been doing to advocate for Virginias employees and retirees and let us know the plans for 2023. We have a long and storied history, and weve been advocating for current and retired state employee rights for over 50 years. Gives every Virginia taxpayer a tax rebate of $250 for single filers and $500 for joint. Read the full article from the VGEA for budget highlights, what to expect next, and details about the pertinent budget sections. Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin (R) will have to . This has been an eventful year for the VGEA as weve seen the Youngkin Administration bring about changes, pass a new biennial budget, and implement a new telework policy among other things. Get a full round-up of our stories delivered to your inbox, every weekday morning. While there is still much work to be done, this is a very good start to creating a more inclusive, supportive, and better Virginia.. The Virginia General Assembly had reconvened last Friday in a special, eight-hour session to review 38 amendments that Governor Youngkin requested in addition to what they had already included in the budget approved on June 1. The budget goes into effect July 1. The VGEA has created two short online surveys to gather important feedback from state employees and retirees. Northam proposes scrapping grocery tax, sending one-time rebates to taxpayers. As expected, Virginias money committees released their proposed biennial budget* for 2023-2024 (July 1, 2022- June 30, 2024) on the evening of May 29, 2022. Youngkin. Hackworth said that he worked with Morefield on flood relief for residents of Hurley, Va., which experienced a devastating flash flood in August 2021. Provide Funding for Retiree Health Care Credit (Budget Item 483 #2c). And as always, were grateful for everyone who worked on our behalf so that we could enjoy the day. Corrections officers, state police and staff at state hospitals would also see their pay rise by even larger amounts, mostly because lawmakers say theyre severely underpaid right now. While some workers conveyed support for Youngkins changes, preliminary results provide insight into building frustration behind the scenes.. - One-time rebates of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for families. Were not. The employees association has called for the administration to delay implementation of telework until Sept. 12 to address concerns around childcare and commuting plans. Provides $100 million to launch lab schools with colleges, including community colleges and HBCUs. Custom Website Design by Key Web Concepts, 2020 VGEA, All Rights Reserved. - Pay raises for state and local law enforcement, correctional officers, local sheriffs deputies. Additional topics: P.S. Northam who has rolled out elements of his plan over the past two weeks proposed a total of about $2.1 billion in tax cuts. The governors office had been largely silent about the policys implementation since acknowledging that it had missed its own June 3 deadline for processing employee telework requests. Together, we stood for greater accountability and transparency in government. Its been a long haul, but I believe the result is a fiscally sound, bipartisan budget we can all be proud of, said Del. Want NBC12s top stories in your inbox each morning? Over 400 state employees responded to theVGEA Telework Survey, and we shared their stories with the Youngkin Administration on June 8, 2022, at the Virginia State Capitol. GLEN ALLEN, Va. (WWBT) - Tuesday afternoon, Virginias governor held a ceremonial signing of the states two-year budget totaling $165 billion at Tom Leonards Farmers Market in Henrico County. The governor is pleased that the General Assembly has moved forward on the budget and adopted a great framework which delivers on his key priorities to give Virginians tax relief, pass the largest education budget, and invest more in law enforcement and behavioral health, said Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter, adding that the governor and his team will continue to review the language in the budget and discuss potential amendments.. May 31, 2022. This takes 48 to 72 hours of an officer's time. If that officer is called out on a mental hygiene case, there is nobody left to patrol the town. Also included are $400 million in cash grants in which each jurisdiction will receive at least $1 million to address planning and design needs as well as smaller capital improvements. And what I mean by that is that tax relief needs to be focused on those who need it the most workers who have lower incomes, workers who have struggled in this pandemic. Working together across party lines, we have made historic investments in our educational system from preschool through grad school, mental health services, economic development programs, and our park systems," added Senator Janet Howell, Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Chair. RICHMONDTeachers, state employees and state-supported local employees would receive raises of 5 percent in the next fiscal year, with additional money for state police salaries, under a budget . Well also discuss our Legislative Priorities for 2023 that over 700 VGEA members helped craft through their responses to our recent survey. Youngkin recently made it clear publicly that he is not backing off his plan to put the new policy into effect July 5, but an organization representing state employees plans to request a delay in implementation until Sept. 12, after the Labor Day holiday. Every time a Virginian goes to the gas pump and pays nearly $5 a gallon for a gallon a gas, they should think about Senate Democrats who kept prices high, said Gov. It's an all or nothing vote. Youngkin proposes 35 amendments to state budget, Budget includes money for Hurley, paying off debt on Central Virginia Training Center, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Glenn Youngkin. "Together, we enacted historic tax cuts and made record investments in education and public safety. Custom Website Design by Key Web Concepts, Virginia closed 2021 with a $2.6 billion surplus, Virginias 2023 General Assembly Session Kicks Off, Governor Youngkin Releases Proposed Budget Amendments, A 5% salary increase in 2022 beginning with the August 1, 2022 paycheck, A one-time bonus payment of $1000 on December 1, 2022, Another 5% salary increase in July 2023 which will show on the first August 2023 paycheck, A $3,000 annual salary increase for probation and parole officers beginning in the second year of the budget, Salary increases for Department of Juvenile Justice corrections staff that includes targeted salary adjustments, addresses compression issues for correctional officers in management roles, and provides competitive salaries consistent with other state-supported correctional positions beginning in the second year, A one-time bonus payment to sworn law-enforcement employees of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Marine Resources Commission (law-enforcement personnel at other agencies had received a similar bonus payment in the 2020-2022 biennium, but the law-enforcement employees of these agencies were not eligible). Prevents the early release of over 500 violent inmates. The House and Senate budget bills for fiscal years 2022-2024 contained some similarities, including raises for state and state-funded employees and hefty deposits to the state's reserves and . The . Join us on Thursday, February 9, 2023, for one of our highlight events of the year: the 2023 VGEA Lobby Day & First Annual Legislative Reception. Custom Website Design by Key Web Concepts, 2020 VGEA, All Rights Reserved. Telework Data Reporting (Budget Item 86 #2c). Every employee benefits from the experience and dedication VGEA brings. With fewer than five full work days left before the July 5 return-to-office deadline, its not clear when the ambiguity will be resolved. "The teacher raises will go into effect August 1 of this year under the stipulation that localities have a match. Knight said that lawmakers took a long hard look at how to help localities meet their responsibility to replace crumbling school buildings using OQuinns and McClellans proposals as a template. (This amendment provides $66.5 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2023 for a one-time bonus payment of $1,000 to state employees on December 1, 2022. I can honestly say, there was not a harsh word between us, Knight said about his work with Howell, his Democratic counterpart. One of the key issues they agreed on was a partial repeal of the states 2.5% grocery tax. Provides $400 million in compensation and additional support for law enforcement and public safety heroes. Earlier Wednesday, Northam announced that he is seeking spending for projects related to water quality and the health of the Chesapeake Bay that total more than $1 billion. ET: The VGEA has heard that the budget was approved by the General Assembly this afternoon with no changes to state employee raises. Lawmakers also agreed to raise the standard deduction to almost double what it is now. Richmond, VA 23235 NORFOLK, Va. Lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly reached a compromise deal on the state's budget that would cut taxes, invest in infrastructure . This amendment provides $66.5 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2023 for a one-time bonus payment of $1,000 to state employees on December 1, 2022. Review of Return to Work Policies for Retired Employees (Budget Item 498 #2c). Virginia Governmental Employees Association plans to formally request the delay in a meeting scheduled next week with Secretary of Administration Lyn McDermid, who is overseeing the process for the governor. Virginia Gov. Thanks to our sponsors Become a Sponsor. Those include one-time rebates of $250 per individual taxpayer or $500 for married couples filing jointly; eliminating the states 1.5 percent tax on groceries, but leaving the 1 percent local add-on tax unchanged; and allowing working families who meet certain criteria to get money back for the earned income tax credit. Are raises coming in 2022? Youngkin and Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome E. Sears (R) attended the presentation of the budget to General Assembly money committees Thursday morning at Northams invitation. - Teacher and state worker pay raises of 10% over two years, plus $1,000 bonuses. Read the full article to find out more about what the VGEA really is. Lobby Day & Legislative Reception February 9, Membership Dues Will Increase Beginning January 1, Read the full article to find out more about what the VGEA really is, Were Asking for More Pay Raises + Talking Points, Breaking News for Retirees | Cost of Living Adjustment, Weve Been Meeting with an All-Star Cast of Legislators. It's a budget we can all be proud of. Now, lets be straight with each other. We depend entirely on donations. VGEA Lobbyist Dylan Bishop says they requested that date be moved back until September to accommodate the need to find child and adult care, as well as other concerns. Theres no reason to be afraid. The proposals would amount to an estimated $5.3 billion in tax relief over the biennium. Ive been a budget conferee for several years now, and while it may have taken some time, I have to say that this has been the most cordial conversation that Ive been involved with.. This economy, this Joe Biden created economy, it requires us to do more, said Governor Glenn Youngkin, (R) Virginia. - Eliminating the 1.5% state portion of the grocery tax. Virginia's Proposed Budget is Great News for State Employees If Passed As-Is. VGEA Executive Director, Marshall Terry, will be there along with members, guests, and the VGEA team. For taxpayers filing a return on or after July 1, 2022, refunds due pursuant to this enactment shall be issued on or after July 1, 2022, but no later than four months after such return is filed. 2023 VGEA, All Rights Reserved. As always, thanks for partnering with the VGEA on behalf of all state employees. More by Markus Schmidt. The budget will then go to Governor Youngkin for final amendments and approval. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com. Last week, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the Virginia state government has implemented an alternative hiring process for individuals with disabilities, serving as a model for inclusive employment practices. Custom Website Design by Key Web Concepts, 2020 VGEA, All Rights Reserved. Lawmakers in Virginia's divided legislature approved a new two-year budget in Richmond on Wednesday after months of negotiations. - Eliminating the 1.5% state portion of the grocery tax. The state will give out one-time rebates of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for couples. Northam vows to raise teacher pay 10 percent. We occasionally hear stories that some state employees and human resources managers believe that the VGEA is a union. The governor did not get his three-month gas tax holiday, which would have shaved about 26 cents of the cost of a gallon of gas. The House. Officially signed into law today, the 2023-2024 biennial budget becomes effective on July 1 and will remain in effect through June 30, 2024. We will continue to work closely with the Youngkin Administration in 2022 and beyond to do what we always do: advocate for excellent pay, health care, and retirement benefits for our state workers priorities that are the core of the VGEAs mission. Theres lots of support for various pay increases. Its not enough. Inflation is running away, and were watching it steal the hard-working paychecks from Virginians, said Gov. Hopefully, the governor will provide localities with the flexibility to split the raise over the two years in a way that makes sense for individual localities. Glenn Youngkin, includes pay raises for state employees and teachers, new money for school construction and funding for gun violence prevention. All rights reserved. This is a simple amendment that will benefit staff greatly without increasing the commitment from the State, he said. Note: Most state employees pay increase will not become effective until August 1, 2022. The funding amount reflects the state's general fund share of the bonus.) Weve seen a partial elimination of [the grocery tax], but not total elimination., I think the thing thats attractive to me is giving back with all the revenues we saw, giving back some of the tax money the citizens paid in, Republican Del. The introduced budget included funding to increase the starting salary for DOC correctional officers up to $44,000, and increase the starting salary for deputy sheriffs and regional jail officers to $42,000. A companion amendment in House Bill 29 provides a $750.0 million payment to the VRS in fiscal year 2022. (Video) "We Won!": Teachers End Historic Strike in West Virginia with 5% Pay Raise for All State Workers (Democracy Now!) Later that evening, well gather (venue TBA) for the VGEAs first annual Legislative Reception! 21, 2022 at 1:04 PM PDT GLEN ALLEN, Va. (WWBT) - Tuesday afternoon, Virginia's governor held a ceremonial signing of the state's. And while the gas tax holiday wasnt approved, other funding measures will bring good news to all Virginians including nearly $4 billion in income and sales tax cuts and $3 billion for education. Check your junk/spam folder, update your email preferences by logging into the member-only portion of the website, or contact info@vgea.org for help. (This amendment provides $66.5 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2023 for a one-time bonus payment of $1,000 to state employees on December 1, 2022. Glenn Youngkin. Perrigan also praised the legislatures decision to increase teacher salaries by 10% over two years, calling it an unprecedented investment in our teachers and staff. The pay raise will go a long way into making Virginias pay scales more competitive with neighboring states, Perrigan said. - Targeted tax cuts for lower-income families and communities, including a refundable tax credit for low-income working families allowing them to collect up to 15% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. The total cost of the across-the-board salary adjustments is $223.1 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2023 and $523.6 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2024. Were going to continue to push to bring the overall cost of government and efficiency in government more in line with where I think it should be, said Gov. It is one facet of a more comprehensive strategy, which includes accommodations, communication, education and awareness, compliance and retention of individuals with differing abilities, said Margaret Lyn McDermid, Secretary of Administration., Read the article from the VGEA and see the press release, State employees face a tight deadline on Friday (May 20, 2022) for getting permission to work from their homes under a new telework policy that Gov. - One-time rebates of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for families. As written, school divisions would not receive credit for giving more than a 5% raise in the first year of the biennium. A companion amendment to House Bill 30 includes additional contingent appropriation of $250.0 million to VRS. But in the end, all but a dozen or so lawmakers voted for this spending plan. Certain employee groups receiving a separate, targeted compensation adjustment equal to or greater than 7.5 percent in the first year will receive a 2.5 percent salary increase in the first year and a five percent salary increase in the second year. Subscribe here. This is a great opportunity to come together to cultivate relationships, discuss issues, collaborate, and explore solutions as we work together to advocate for positive change on important issues facing our state employees and retirees. (See HB29 Caboose Budget, Budget Item 477 #1c. Reach out to the VGEA team at info@vgea.org with questions, comments, or concerns. We know that. In short, The Commonwealth of Virginia works because we do! They wont. Del. It will be up to his successor, Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin (R), to propose changes and navigate the budget through the General Assembly once he takes office Jan. 15. Tony Wilt, who represents some of the Shenandoah Valley, said. Jun. The budget is now headed to Gov. While much of the existing budget language remains in place, there were some additions. I am grateful for the constant advocacy of Delegate OQuinn, and the bipartisan support, for this important funding stream. Simon: "God forbid, they actually had to have a public meeting, and invite the press and the public and the rest of us in to know what it was they were talking about, Mr. Speaker.. A strong association with representative members is recognized and invited to decision-making tables in state government. DOC Air Conditioning Installation (Budget Item 486 #23c). VGEA members are invited to gather at the Virginia State Capitol on the morning of February 9 where VGEA Lobbyist, Dylan D. Bishop of the Eckert Seamans law firm, will kick things off and then lead us to meet with legislators. The flush coffers allowed lawmakers to finally take on a challenge that has been decades in the making Virginias crumbling school infrastructure. The following has been edited for length and clarity. To that end, the VGEA decided on the following courses of action today. The standard deduction would increase from $4,500 to $8,000 for individuals and from $9,000 to $16,000 for joint filers. And finally, for the states share of teacher retirement, we can issue $200 million each year in literary fund loans, he said. Senator Travis Hackworth, R-Tazewell, said he had spoken with Delegate James W. "Will" Morefield, R-Tazewell, and understood that teachers would not be receiving a 10 percent pay raise that's part of the new budget until August. The group is also asking Youngkin to reconsider the blanket nature of the policy in favor of a nuanced approach that gives individual agencies more decision-making power.. UPDATE June 1, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Well talk about all of that as well as the continued need for salary increases, retiree benefits, and our plans for additional telework advocacy based on recent feedback from 1,222 employees. $1.25 billion in grants and loans to support school construction. In no case shall any interest be paid on any refund due pursuant to this enactment. If the proposed budget is approved without additional changes by both the General Assembly and Governor Youngkin (which the VGEA expects at this time), it will be great news for state employees. In no case shall any interest be paid on any refund due pursuant to this enactment. Read the full article from VGEA Lobbyist, Dylan Bishop. The plan also calls for spending $1 million to study the states dire need for more capacity in its behavioral health facilities, and then $100 million in the second year for increasing capacity. This amendment adjusts funding in the introduced budget providing a targeted salary increase to DOC correctional officers. However, VGEA has since begun productive dialogue about the policy, its implementation, and its potential implications with the appropriate officials within the Youngkin Administration including Secretary of the Administration, Lyn McDermid., As part of the return to pre-pandemic normalcy, Governor Youngkin announced on May 5th that state employees are expected to return to their jobs in person on Monday, July 5th. Not in this budget, no. u. included in the appropriation for this item is $6,591,337 the first year and $14,740,641 the second year from the general fund to provide a five percent increase in base pay effective july 10, 2022 and an additional five percent effective june 10, 2023 for adjunct faculty at virginia two-year and four-year public colleges and higher education The VGEA will keep you updated as we get additional updates. The re-enrolled Virginia State Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2024, HB 30, will be formally enrolled in the Acts of Assembly this week. Law in the budget virginia state employee raises 2023 for introduction by the General Schedule base raise! Officially signed into law today, the 2023-2024 biennial budget becomes effective on July 1 and will remain in effect through June 30, 2024. Its an event you wont want to miss. They didnt get one of Youngkins other big priorities a gas tax holiday . Northams administration touts the proposed budget as a road map for success that leaves the incoming governor in excellent financial shape, with record amounts in the states reserve funds. - Targeted tax cuts for lower-income families and communities, including a refundable tax credit for low-income working families allowing them to collect up to 15% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. This was a ceremonial signing because the actual budget documents arent fully prepared. That concerns only continued to grow, he said. Updated: 2:52 PM EDT May 27, 2022. NOW: @GovernorVA signs two-year state budget. For taxpayers filing a return on or after July 1, 2022, refunds due pursuant to this enactment shall be issued on or after July 1, 2022, but no later than four months after such return is filed. The state will give out one-time rebates of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for couples. Individuals undergoing mental issues have to be picked up, taken to a medical facility for diagnosis, then taken to a state mental health facility. By the time lawmakers went back to their home districts, both parties were still haggling over a $3 billion gap separating their individual spending plans. I think they underestimated the number of employees who have some sort of telework or remote work agreement in place, said Dylan Bishop, lobbyist for the Virginia Governmental Employees Association. When the General Assembly originally approved and presented its proposed biennial budget on June 1, the VGEA highlighted some of the benefits to state employees. That said, we recognize that there is still much work to do. If he does, the legislature has to come back and vote on those amendments. Because the states coffers are so full, Northam has proposed spending some $2.8 billion in cash on various capital improvement projects such as construction and renovation instead of borrowing money and having to pay interest. Knight: "What I think we have done is we have got a good bipartisan budget.. Youngkin has praised elements of Northams plan but said it doesnt go far enough with tax cuts. We are proud of House and Senate Democrats tireless work to deliver vital funds for our schools, our police, healthcare facilities, and lower-income communities. Continued thanks to the 400+ state employees who answered the VGEAs survey about the governors new telework policy. Ralph Northam (D) unveiled the final proposed budget of his term in office Thursday, a two-year plan that uses big surpluses to fund raises for teachers and state employees as well as tax cuts that he says are aimed at working families. Inflation is running away, and were watching it steal the hard-working paychecks from Virginians, said Gov. While there are more than 160,000 of us working in a vast array of professions and jobs, we unite in a desire to be recognized for our dedication to making Virginia a great state. GLEN ALLEN, Va. (WWBT) - Tuesday afternoon, Virginias governor held a ceremonial signing of the states two-year budget totaling $165 billion at Tom Leonards Farmers Market in Henrico County. Youngkin. But to some, just hearing the word. ), State Employee Bonus (Budget Item 483 #4c). Now, the budget will be sent to Governor Youngkin for final amendments and approval. In addition, the budget provides about $4 billion in tax cuts. Glenn Youngkin has imposed, but some say their supervisors have shown little flexibility in carrying it out., The Virginia Governmental Employees Association (VGEA) was surprised to hear of the Governors new telework policy for state employees for the first time by email last Thursday, May 12. Invite the VGEA team out to share what were working on, whats coming up, and the many benefits of VGEA membership. Still, if this budget is signed by Youngkin, it will be the biggest K-12 budget the state has ever passed, even after adjusting for inflation. The bill is initially adopted in even-numbered years and amended in odd-numbered years. And they didnt always like what they saw. You may recall that Virginia closed 2021 with a $2.6 billion surplus the largest surplus in state history and a surplus that was far above any forecasts so it makes sense that some of the surplus would be given back to Virginians. The Virginia State Police also saw an increase in its budget. His proposal includes raises and pay adjustments for law enforcement and corrections officers. The Department of Human Resources Management (DHRM) released a telework report on September 30, 2022, that takes a look at telework numbers pre-COVID, during COVID, and present day. For more on the state budget, including specifics such as funding for the Central Virginia Training Center in Amherst County, life sciences labs in Roanoke, and flood relief in Hurley, see our previous coverage. This amendment provides $8.8 million the first year from the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Recovery Fund for air conditioning installation at several adult correctional facilities. With the budget, lawmakers cant pick and choose which items they want. UPDATE June 1, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. In a Monday interview, VGEA Lobbyist Dylan Bishop said he met with Secretary of Administration Lyn McDermid earlier this month, but had low hopes the administration would push back its timeline.
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