The Vermont House has given preliminary approval to a midyear budget adjustment bill that relies on higher-than-expected state revenues and reserve funds to boost spending for Medicaid and housing programs.
Total spending will be up more than $12 million over the nearly $1.4 billion general fund budget lawmakers passed last spring. Another source of upward pressure is more money for out-of-state prison beds, to make room for higher numbers of per-trial detainees being held in Vermont.
Lawmakers also are being asked to increase funding for emergency housing for homeless Vermonters.
A bit of savings is due to the number of households participating in the state's Reach Up welfare-to-work program is lower than was expected. The measure is up for final House action on Friday.
Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
