Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell wants to change Virginia's budgeting process so that he and future governors will have more input into the state's spending plans.
Currently, governors propose two-year budgets to be considered in even-numbered years, as in the upcoming 2010 legislative session.
That's why Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, proposed a two-year budget just 28 days before his Republican successor takes office. Kaine's proposal features tax increases that McDonnell says he won't accept.
McDonnell today proposed changing the cycle so that a governor's budget would be developed in odd-numbered years.
Under this scenario McDonnell would get to propose two full two-year budgets that the legislature would consider in 2011 and in 2013.
The following governor, who takes office in January 2014, would start by tweaking McDonnell's existing budget, but would have a year to learn the ropes before proposing a two-year spending plan for consideration in 2015.
"Unfortunately, the current budget development process leads to a situation, repeated every four years, in which the consideration, debate and adoption of one governor's proposed budget takes place during the administration of his successor," McDonnell said.
It also requires a new governor to potentially propose sweeping changes to a budget just days after taking office.
McDonnell proposed the change last September during his successful campaign for governor. A spokesman said Kaine also supports changing the cycle.
McDonnell noted that key General Assembly leaders support the change, as did former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's Commission on Government Efficiency and Effectiveness, formed to advise then-Gov. Mark R. Warner. The business community also is behind it, he said.
The proposal could face constitutional limitations. The state Constitution establishes 60-day legislative sessions in even-numbered years -- when lawmakers now develop budgets -- and 45 days for odd-numbered years when legislators only amend existing budgets.
But a McDonnell spokesman noted that the General Assembly could extend the "short session" in 2011 to consider a McDonnell budget proposal.
"I look forward to working with the members of the General Assembly to adopt this reform in the near future to begin with submission of a full, two-year budget in 2011," McDonnell said.
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