RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Virginia’s new budget that went into effect July 1 comes with pay raises for state employees and teachers and what lawmakers called a record-breaking investment in K-12 public schools.
The nearly $188 billion two-year budget , which runs until June 30, 2026, gives 3% pay raises to public school teachers, K-12 support positions and state employees in each of the next two fiscal years.
The wage increases apply to adjunct faculty, graduating teaching assistants at colleges and universities and state-supported local employees.
Virginia’s new two-year budget also includes $2.5 billion in more K-12 public education funding, more than $1 billion in funding than what Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) initially proposed in his budget plan.
READ MORE: Virginia lawmakers pass new state budget deal
Over the next two fiscal years, the state’s spending plan also comes with more than $200 million from the state’s general fund in new behavioral health spending, nearly $150 million in additional funding to support the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, more than $100 million for toll relief for low-income individuals in Hampton Roads.