For those of you looking for something to do on a Saturday evening, here are some of the highlights from the $20.7 billion state budget tentatively approved today by the House and Senate:

MEDICAID RELIEF AND LAND TRANSFER TAX
The state will take over the counties’ 5 percent share of Medicaid bills in exchange for a half penny of their sales tax revenues. Poor, rural counties are expected to come out ahead on the deal, since Medicaid costs are expected to grow faster than the sales tax revenues. The counties will have the option to raise their sales tax by a quarter penny or their land transfer tax from 0.2 to 0.6 percent, but only through a voter referendum. Fast-growing urban areas had sought the land transfer tax option to help pay for new schools and other infrastructure.

More details after the jump.

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