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One-Time Bonus for Virginia State Employees

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Democratic Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says his budget proposal will include a 1.5 percent one-time bonus for state workers next year.

McAuliffe said Tuesday during a regular appearance on WRVA-AM's "Ask the Governor" that the bonus would be paid in December 2017. He says he's setting aside $130.6 million for the pay boost, career development and money to reduce salary compression among law enforcement.

The state faces an estimated $861 million budget shortfall for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and McAuliffe scrapped planned raises for state employees over the summer. He says permanent raises are the eventual goal but the funds aren't there yet.

The governor didn't announce specifics about any planned cuts but has said K-12 education spending won't be reduced.

McAuliffe will present his proposal to lawmakers Friday.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.