Senate OKs $5.86 billion budget

The Senate gave preliminary approval on Friday to a $5.86 billion budget proposal that would prioritize spending on the state’s mental health system, restore funding to programs that serve vulnerable Vermonters and make investments in workforce development.

Facing no debate on floor, the budget received unanimous support and is expected to pass on a second vote next week.

In the Senate’s budget bill, spending would increase slightly from last year’s $5.8 billion budget, but match the level in Gov. Phil Scott’s proposal which lands just under $5.86 billion, according to the Joint Fiscal Office.

The Scott administration laid out its proposal in January.

General fund spending in the Senate’s bill is higher than Scott’s by about $8 million, and $2 million higher than it would be under the House’s budget proposal, which passed in March.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2018/04/27/senate-oks-5-86-billion-budget/