Major features of Virginia's spending plan through 2012 that was approved Sunday:
TAXES AND FEES
Includes about $95.4 million in new fees, such as increases in the charge to file cases in General District and Circuit courts and a $10 increase in the fee to record a deed.
Retained 40 percent of the dealer discount, a small share of the state income tax merchants are allowed to keep for their trouble collecting and remitting the revenue, for about 94,000 of the state's smallest retailers. The budget as introduced recommended its elimination. Sets aside $50 million to bulk up the state's Rainy Day Fund.
STATE EMPLOYEES
Eliminates a proposal to require current state employees to contribute toward the cost of their retirement, but requires new employees to pay 5 percent toward theirs. Allows localities to require employees to pay some of their retirement.
Converts the state-funded death and disability benefits program for state and local public safety officers into an insurance program.
Requires one furlough day for state employees in 2010, but none in the remaining two years.
Allows for a 3 percent bonus for state employees in 2011 if revenues exceed projections by $82 million.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Cuts public schools by about $253 million, compared to the House's proposed $680 million in cuts and the Senate's $135 million.
Provides $29.5 million to reverse former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's decision to freeze the local composite index, a formula by which state school dollars are apportioned to local districts, and provides $174.1 million to loosen the blow to those school divisions that would have lost significant funding because of the change.
Extends the life of school buses from 12 to 15 years, saving $9.7 million each year. Allows localities to increase class sizes by one student.
Eliminates nearly $35 million in funding for staff travel, lease and rental fees and facility costs.
Restores $4 million in funding to keep open the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton, including $1.3 million for children who may transfer from the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute's Adolescent Unit in Marion that will close.
Uses proceeds from the lottery to pay for summer school, some textbook purchases and other programs, and increases the amount likely to be available from the lottery by $5 million each year because of the addition of the Powerball game.
Reduces funding for public broadcasting, the arts and libraries by 15 percent.
HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Reduces funding by $360 million over the two years, but anticipates being able to restore the cuts with federal stimulus money.
If federal dollars are approved, it would mitigate Medicaid reimbursement cuts of 7 percent to hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other health professionals, restore funding to free clinics and community health centers, negate the need to cut eligibility for welfare programs and add funding so that 250 intellectually disabled children can receive treatment at home.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Restores $47 million in cuts to sheriffs and jails in 2011 and limits their reductions to 2.6 percent, instead of the 15 percent that was proposed.
Restores the 1:1,500 ratio for sheriff's deputies. Reduces the amount paid to house jail inmates by $2 million. Provides more than $32 million in funding for local police officers.
Provides $1.2 million for the state's two Internet Crimes Against Children task forces.
Restores funding for counterterrorism efforts and schools to train Virginia State Police troopers.
Closes one prison, to be decided by the Department of Corrections.
COMMERCE and TRADE
Provides $43 million to attract businesses to Virginia, including $7.2 million for to promote tourism and $2 million to lure moviemakers to the state.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Retains funding for state parks.
MISCELLANEOUS
Adds 20 more Alcoholic Beverage Control stores across the state and adds 2 percent to the cost of alcohol.
Freezes 17 judicial vacancies and any others that may become open through 2012.
