The coronavirus pandemic could cost Virginia billions of dollars in tax revenue moving forward.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said the state has taken an $800 million tax revenue hit in the quarter, and that the losses will probably total $2.5 billion to $3 billion over the next two years.
鈥淏ut we鈥檙e going to come out of this, I think, in a very strong position, especially compared to other states,鈥� Northam said, noting that Virginia鈥檚 reserve fund is strong and that the state has received around $3.3 billion in federal help.
Northam plans to bring the legislature back in August when they have a better idea of the state鈥檚 revenue.
Speaking at a virtual event held by the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Northam also spoke about Virginia鈥檚 reopening.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to continue to practice good habits, and just hope if we can do that, that we won鈥檛 have a resurgence of this in the fall,” he said. “That would be very damaging for Virginia and for the rest of this country.鈥�
Northam also took a shot at the federal pandemic response by referencing his time as a military doctor.
鈥淲e trained for chemical and biological war,鈥� Northam said. 鈥淲e are in the middle of a biological war right now, and we have been asked to fight this war as governors with absolutely no supplies.鈥�
Still, Northam said the state is now in a 鈥済ood place鈥� in terms of personal protective equipment, testing and hospital capacity.
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