The House and Senate late Friday finally came to agreement on a $5.5 billion state budget.
The days-long negotiation centered in part on proposed increases in spending for state colleges and Medicaid providers. In the end, the colleges got a 1 percent increase, and Medicaid reimbursements will rise by 1.6 percent. The jump in provider payments t isn’t as much as some had hoped for, but Westford Rep. Martha Heath says the changes will make a difference.
“But it will be helpful to Vermonters in general, because there won’t be as much of a cost shift in health care as there otherwise would," said Heath.
The budget will require a $5 million tax increase, though lawmakers were still at odds over how to raise the new revenue.
Advocates for needy and disabled Vermonters were mostly happy with the budget from Democratic leaders in the House, Senate and administration, unlike last year, when proposed cuts to human services drew criticism.
House and Senate Republicans say growth in the state budget is unsustainable, and have called on Democrats to cut spending.
