Gov. Glenn Youngkin will sign a pair of state budgets ceremonially on Tuesday at a produce market in western Henrico County, ending a sometimes combative six-month showdown with the General Assembly over taxes and spending priorities.
Youngkin won't yet have the actual budget bills to sign into law, as the end of the current fiscal year approaches and the next two-year spending cycle begins on July 1. The assembly first must finish enrolling the bills in final form for the governor's signature.
But despite some setbacks at the hands of the assembly last week, the first-year Republican governor is ready to celebrate a bundle of budget victories in his first encounter with a politically divided legislature that has tried to take advantage of his inexperience in government.
"Today is a good day in Virginia!" Youngkin tweeted late Friday night after the assembly adopted more than two-thirds of the 38 amendments he proposed to the revised budget for the current year and the $165 billion two-year spending plan.
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Youngkin's biggest trophy is $4 billion in cuts to state income and sales taxes. The tax-cut package was made possible by a record revenue surplus last year and likely another big one in the year that ends on June 30.
It also was fueled by his surprise election victory last fall, which prompted his Democratic predecessor, then-Gov. Ralph Northam, to include a more modest set of pre-emptive tax rebates and cuts in a parting budget. Northam delivered his budget proposal in December with Youngkin taking notes at his side in an unusual joint appearance before the assembly's money committees.
The budgets that Youngkin will sign ceremonially on Tuesday include a nearly 80% increase in the standard deduction for income tax filers, which will reduce state revenues by $1.6 billion over two years, or about $500 million less than he had proposed in tandem with the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.
It also will include a partial repeal of the sales tax on groceries, exemptions for up to $40,000 a year in military retirement income and one-time rebates of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for couples, as Northam had proposed, instead of the $300/$600 Youngkin sought.
But the budget won't include a temporary suspension of the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. The Democratic-controlled Senate rejected Youngkin's efforts three times as a political stunt, saying it would do little to help consumers faced with $5-a-gallon gas prices, while undermining Virginia's transportation system.
It also includes a boon to low-income working families who will be able to receive a refund of 15% of their unused Earned Income Tax Credit, a longtime Democratic priority that Republicans had blocked until House and Senate budget negotiators reached a compromise that the assembly adopted on June 1.
Youngkin quickly sought to use his latest loss on the gas tax to pin consumer anger on Democrats. He also has tried to court Black legislators and voters by boosting state support of historically Black colleges and universities, partly at the expense of financial aid for undocumented immigrant students who were born elsewhere but raised here after they were brought to this country as children.
The assembly allowed him to divert $10 million from the so-called "dreamers" to increase financial aid at HBCUs, even though the budget included up to $50 million in unappropriated money that could have paid for it.
In his Twitter statement on Friday night, Youngkin touted "a big win for our HBCUs," as well the assembly's approval of his budget to allow private colleges and universities, as well as community colleges and higher education centers, to compete for a limited pot of state dollars to pay for a network of lab schools that would offer alternatives to traditional K-12 education.
He didn't mention that the Senate had killed his proposal to divert per-pupil public education money away from public schools to lab schools, or that it had rejected a vague proposal to give $1.6 million to the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University to "to research ways to increase opportunities for K-12 students" based on the administration's guidelines.
The pointed inclusion of HBCUs for lab school funding exasperated Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, a graduate of historically Black Norfolk State University.
'Please stop using HBCUs for your political football," King told House Republicans.
Youngkin also celebrated a new budget requirement for colleges and universities to adopt plans for "preserving free speech & diversity of thought on college campuses," although it stops short of his proposal last month to require political diversity in hiring faculty.
Finally, the governor asserted that the assembly had made communities safer "by removing violent criminals' ability to get off early and re-offend."
The assembly approved his proposal to close an alleged loophole in a two-year-old law to expand opportunities for prison inmates to reduce sentences for nonviolent crimes by earning additional "good time" credits. The amendment prevents those earned credits from reducing concurrent sentences for violent crimes, which will prevent the early release of more than 500 inmates this summer.
Youngkin didn't mention raises of 10% over two years for state employees, teachers, college faculty and state-supported local employees - Northam included the money in his proposed budget - to take effect on July 10 for the Aug. 1 payday.
Localities with the highest unemployment rate in Virginia
Localities with the highest unemployment rate in Virginia

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.
As of May of this year, national unemployment is at 3.6%—as it was in both March and April, marking a three-month stagnation—following a steady drop since that aforementioned COVID-affected peak. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 1.9% in Nebraska and Utah, to 5.3% in New Mexico and 5.8% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.
To that end, Stacker compiled a list of localities with the highest unemployment rate in Virginia using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in April 2022, which as of this writing is the most current Bureau data.
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#50. Galax

- Current unemployment rate: 2.64%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 2,958 (78 unemployed)
#49. Greensville County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.64%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 4,473 (118 unemployed)
#48. Cumberland County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.66%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 4,742 (126 unemployed)
#47. Surry County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.67%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 3,601 (96 unemployed)
#46. Accomack County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.79%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 15,618 (436 unemployed)
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#45. Henry County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.81%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 25,518 (718 unemployed)
#44. Carroll County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.82%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.4%
- Total labor force: 13,406 (378 unemployed)
#43. Lee County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.83%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 8,772 (248 unemployed)
#42. Caroline County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.83%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 14,628 (414 unemployed)
#41. Suffolk

- Current unemployment rate: 2.83%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.7%
- Total labor force: 44,235 (1,252 unemployed)
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#40. Page County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.84%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 12,485 (354 unemployed)
#39. Dinwiddie County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.85%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.7%
- Total labor force: 13,141 (374 unemployed)
#38. Russell County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.85%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 11,428 (326 unemployed)
#37. Prince Edward County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.87%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 11,054 (317 unemployed)
#36. Colonial Heights

- Current unemployment rate: 2.88%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 8,134 (234 unemployed)
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#35. Charles City County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.92%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.7%
- Total labor force: 3,429 (100 unemployed)
#34. Prince George County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.94%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 14,644 (430 unemployed)
#33. Fredericksburg

- Current unemployment rate: 2.95%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 13,991 (413 unemployed)
#32. Norton

- Current unemployment rate: 2.98%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 1,780 (53 unemployed)
#31. Roanoke

- Current unemployment rate: 2.99%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 47,452 (1,418 unemployed)
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#30. Lexington

- Current unemployment rate: 2.99%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 2,242 (67 unemployed)
#29. Mecklenburg County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.01%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 13,406 (403 unemployed)
#28. Bristol

- Current unemployment rate: 3.06%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 7,350 (225 unemployed)
#27. Patrick County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.07%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.4%
- Total labor force: 7,356 (226 unemployed)
#26. Wise County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.16%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 14,412 (455 unemployed)
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#25. Essex County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.20%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 5,368 (172 unemployed)
#24. Lynchburg

- Current unemployment rate: 3.22%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 35,020 (1,128 unemployed)
#23. Dickenson County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.24%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.2%
- Total labor force: 5,156 (167 unemployed)
#22. Williamsburg

- Current unemployment rate: 3.27%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 6,577 (215 unemployed)
#21. Halifax County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.30%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.4%
- Total labor force: 15,981 (528 unemployed)
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#20. Tazewell County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.31%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 16,220 (537 unemployed)
#19. Northampton County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.43%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -2.4%
- Total labor force: 5,488 (188 unemployed)
#18. Buckingham County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.46%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 6,265 (217 unemployed)
#16. Norfolk

- Current unemployment rate: 3.59%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.3%
- Total labor force: 107,290 (3,857 unemployed)
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#15. Newport News

- Current unemployment rate: 3.67%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 86,076 (3,156 unemployed)
#14. Northumberland County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.70%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 5,786 (214 unemployed)
#13. Lancaster County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.77%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -2.2%
- Total labor force: 5,625 (212 unemployed)
#12. Covington

- Current unemployment rate: 3.79%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 2,403 (91 unemployed)
#11. Hampton

- Current unemployment rate: 3.79%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 62,644 (2,373 unemployed)
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#10. Franklin

- Current unemployment rate: 4.02%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -3.3%
- Total labor force: 3,528 (142 unemployed)
#9. Portsmouth

- Current unemployment rate: 4.27%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.5%
- Total labor force: 43,101 (1,842 unemployed)
#8. Brunswick County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.30%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.2%
- Total labor force: 6,021 (259 unemployed)
#7. Sussex County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.38%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.3%
- Total labor force: 3,520 (154 unemployed)
#6. Buchanan County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.46%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.3%
- Total labor force: 6,546 (292 unemployed)
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#5. Danville

- Current unemployment rate: 4.48%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.2%
- Total labor force: 19,333 (867 unemployed)
#4. Martinsville

- Current unemployment rate: 4.87%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.9%
- Total labor force: 5,912 (288 unemployed)
#3. Hopewell

- Current unemployment rate: 4.93%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.9%
- Total labor force: 9,262 (457 unemployed)
#2. Emporia

- Current unemployment rate: 5.10%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -3.1%
- Total labor force: 2,471 (126 unemployed)
#1. Petersburg

- Current unemployment rate: 6.70%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -4.2%
- Total labor force: 12,206 (818 unemployed)
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