Move budget to odd-numbered years

Former state senator Brandon Bell posted this today:

I believe it’s safe to say that our current budget process has some serious flaws. But we can fix it.

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Move the budget writing to the odd years. This would give the Governor an opportunity to introduce and advocate for two budgets, not just one.

I said the same thing about 18 months ago:

Let me make a suggestion: change the budgeting cycle. Instead of the biennial budget coinciding with the start of a new administration, move it one year in. That way, the new governor would have time to assess all of what is going on and truly come up with his own budget, as opposed to simply trying to modify one presented by his predecessor. And the General Assembly would have no excuse for not passing it on time.

As it turns out, my thought wasn’t original, either, as the Governor pointed out in a blogger conference call:

Q: With the $137 million mistake in the budget, do you support changing the budget cycle to move it back by a year so that a new governor is not dealing with the budget as soon as he takes office?

• A: Kaine strongly supports moving the budget cycle back or forward a year. He mentioned the Cuccinelli bill that does this very thing. Kaine said that he actually only had four days to put amendments in the budget. While he had been privy to the budget process in his role as Lt Gov, not all new governors will come in under such friendly circumstances.

It is interesting to note the the Cuccinelli bill linked above passed the Senate 40-0 but languished in the House Appropriations committee. I think it’s time something gets done about this. Somebody needs to take this on next session. Hey Brian and Creigh – how about you guys carry the bills in your respective chambers?