Virginia residents are getting an opportunity to review and comment on Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposed two-year state budget.

The House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees of the Virginia General Assembly will hold regional public hearings on the proposed state budget in the beginning of January.

Hearings will take place in Big Stone Gap, Fairfax County, Newport News, Lexington and Richmond.

The proposed budget takes millions largely from inflation adjustments for health care and school support programs, guts McDonnell's predecessor's prekindergarten program and reassigns
money to Virginia's underfunded public pension plan, higher education and economic development.

The spending blueprint for the 24 months beginning July 1, 2012, prescribes no tax increases. It totals nearly $85 billion in combined appropriations, up from about $80.7 billion for the biennium that ends June 30.