Virginia restored millions of dollars for health care, education and other services this year after lopping billions during leaner times. But a new study says that the state is still $8 billion below its pre-recession funding levels. The General Assembly earlier this year provided about $75 million more for public schools than Gov. Bob McDonnell had requested in the current two-year, $80 billion budget. It allocated an additional $30 million for mental health services in response to a damning report from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Unfortunately, Virginia still has far to go in terms of bringing public investment levels back in the range of pre-recession levels,” according to the report by the left-leaning Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, which analyzes economic issues with a particular focus on low- and middle-income people.