Virginia House and Senate budget negotiators forged a tentative compromise Wednesday on how to spend more than $77 billion over the next two years, following three days of overtime debate over funding core services and a meager set of program expansions.

The agreement represents a hybrid of each chamber’s and Gov. Tim Kaine’s proposed biennial budgets. It is unlikely to mollify all lawmakers but is nevertheless likely to win approval today by a General Assembly eager to turn its attention to a growing transportation crisis.

The budget was engineered for a worsening economic slump expected to cause a $2 billion shortfall through 2010. Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News, believed the spending plan is better than many had expected “given the tight times that we’re in.”

Much of the Senate’s original proposal was reduced to suit the more austere House demands, which also were not entirely satisfied. The proposed expansion of pre-kindergarten, one of Kaine’s top initiatives, was cut to $22 million, less than half of the Senate’s request.

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The two chambers reached a compromise to tap about $300 million in emergency “rainy day” funds to help close the deficit.

Wednesday’s agreement finds some money to boost the pay of state employees 2 percent this year, and another 2 percent next year for state employees and teachers. The House already had dropped its much-bemoaned plan to lessen the state’s share of teacher pay raises, which the majority Senate Democrats considered a victory.

The deal includes another $1 billion for mandated statewide public school funding, upping the total amount over the next two years to $11 billion. Aid to local governments, however, would see a $100 million reduction over the next two years. State agencies would be shrunk by $17.5 million each year.

Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, successfully fought for $1.5 million to crack down on Internet sex predators as part of his proposed “Alicia’s law.”

“Today is a tremendous step in our efforts to protect Virginia’s children from the most violent, vile online predators,” said Moran, a gubernatorial candidate.

One of the House’s key measures — supplying hundreds more Medicaid slots for care for Virginia’s mentally retarded population, was partly met at 600 slots in the next fiscal year.

About $6 million was put to a Senate proposal for drug court funding.

wflook@dcexaminer.com