Stosch questions whether it would be in McAuliffe’s interest to make budget choices so quickly after entering office. “I don’t think it’s to his advantage to feel the pressure of making amendments until the budget process unfolds and he can see what’s in there,” the chairman said.

The decision also could make it less tempting for the new governor to propose spending priorities for roughly $50 million in unappropriated balances in the budget McDonnell introduced.

In his memo to House members, Jones pointed out that revenue collections through November lagged the forecast by 1 percent, which would be a difference of $150 million in available revenues for the budget.

“Given the pace of revenue collection in (fiscal year) 2014, it would be ill-advised in my opinion to spend against that balance,” he said.

Instead, Jones said the committee would wait for a revenue update in the first week of February to see whether collections in December and January will make up the difference. “It is critically important that we maintain this balance as a buffer to guard against any negative revisions to the forecast,” he said.