Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Adjustment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Appropriations panel moves $1M education adjustment, approves $3M VHFA reversion and holds $11M item pending review
Summary
At its Jan. 31 session the House Appropriations Committee moved a $1 million technical reduction for state-placed students into the budget adjustment bill, approved using a $3 million VHFA reversion to cover a settlement payment, and put an $11 million item on hold pending review by another committee.
The House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 31 moved a $1 million technical reduction for state-placed students into the budget adjustment bill and approved using a $3,000,000 reversion from VHFA to cover a payment tied to an EB-5 settlement, while putting an $11,000,000 calendar-year item on hold pending further review by the Health Committee.
Committee chair (unnamed) said the $1 million change is an accounting adjustment to the Education Fund and does not change the tax rate. The committee heard that the line for “state-based students” has historically been volatile because placements can shift between in-state and out-of-state care and a single new placement can be costly. Sean, identified as representing “HCC of Ed,” told the committee the estimate would have looked different had the office been informed earlier.
Members asked clarifying questions about prior budgeted amounts and how future budgets would reflect any discrepancy. A committee member said the line was originally budgeted at $20,000,000 and the proposed revision reduces that figure to $19,000,000; committee discussion noted that actual expenditures in some years had been reported closer to $14,000,000–$15,000,000 or other midteens figures.
On a separate item, the committee approved reverting $3,000,000 from VHFA to pay a settlement obligation described in the transcript as related to EB-5. Committee members said the settlement payment must be made and that the reversion was available; one member noted the payment would be made from the fund or from a liability account if the reversion were not used.
The committee also placed an $11,000,000 item on hold after staff and members said the Health Committee needed more time to review related material. Stephanie Ferrick had circulated a memo showing how a similar item had been handled for calendar year 2023; members said they would seek feedback from Health Committee members and from staff (Nolan) before deciding whether to include that language in the budget adjustment.
Committee staff and members emphasized these actions were primarily technical or bookkeeping steps for the budget-adjustment bill and, where substantive policy remained, that language would be deferred for further committee consideration.
The committee did not record roll-call votes in the transcript; members agreed to the adjustments by consensus during the discussion.
