The Delaware Senate passed a fiscal 2019 budget with only one dissenting vote, WHYY and other media outlets reported.
The budget goes to the House.
This time around, the budget that passed the Senate is up nearly 4 percent, with last year’s figure, which after legislators missed a June 30 deadline. The budget contains pay raises for state workers and a small bonus for state pensioners.
The swift Senate action came with little fanfare, even though it was the earliest vote in years.
All of this was a marked contrast from a little more than a year ago when legislators were struggling with a nearly $400 million deficit.
The General Assembly reconvened and passed a budget with some concessions to GOP legislators who balked at higher taxes.
There are concerns that the state is relying on one-time revenue sources with the fiscal 2019 budget, with a possibility that structural could return and bring deficits next year.
Passage of the budget does not necessarily mean that legislators could be home on June 30. That day is known for a marathon session that can stretch into the wee morning hours of July 1.
The Grant-in-Aid Bill for nonprofit groups and the Bond Bill for construction projects still require approval.
Grant-in-Aid was cut sharply in last year’s session, with Republican legislators pushing for full restoration of the grants in the next budget.
