|
The House of Representatives approved the conference committee report on a two-year $27.9 billion budget Tuesday by a vote of 62-37, with all House Republicans supporting it. The Senate, by a 34-16 vote, approved the budget Tuesday as well.
The budget includes Gov. Mitch Daniels’ parameters for a budget he would approve:
—It contains no tax increases.
—It maintains at least $1 billion in state reserves.
—It includes cuts for each dollar spent above the governor’s recommended amount.
—It uses one-time federal stimulus money for one-time purposes, including statewide infrastructure projects, university construction projects, some university operating expenses and the final installment of state-funded homestead tax grants. Title I and special education stimulus money will be used for one-time investments to improve facilities, technology and equipment; this would not increase base operating expenses.
—It does not raid pension funds, trust funds or use other dedicated money for operating purposes.
The new state budget also protects education and advances education reform efforts:
—It supports K-12 education with an average increase of 1.1 percent in calendar year 2010 and 0.3 percent in calendar year 2011.
—It fully funds enrollment growth at rapidly-growing schools.
—It includes an Educational Scholarship Tax Credit, providing hope for low-income students and families to attend the school of their choice.
—It allows charter school growth by removing Democrat-backed caps, which is critical if Indiana is to be eligible for federal competitive grants under the “Race to the Top” program.
—It also allows the state Department of Education to create a program for federal matching grants for charter schools and grants charter schools access to state technology funds.
—It includes enhanced support for Ivy Tech Community College, improving the state’s community college network as well as training opportunities for unemployed workers.
“All caucuses considered the advantages and disadvantages of spending and followed the governor’s proposed guidelines,” said Rep. Phyllis Pond (R-New Haven).
“With the tight economic conditions, we had to craft a budget that does not spend more than the state takes in or spend all the reserves. This budget accomplished that.”
“This is a two-year, taxpayer-friendly budget,” said Rep. Randy Borror (R-Fort Wayne). “It is exactly the right budget in light of our current economic situation that has led to a loss of $2 billion in projected state revenue.
Rep. Matt Bell (R-Avilla) said, “The rest of the nation would do well to take a look at the philosophy we used. No tax increases, the budget does not rely on gimmicks, it keeps at least $1 billion in the bank and it is a pro-education budget. Another important factor that should not be overlooked: Although this budget contains long-held and time-tested core Republican principles, it also is a compromise budget. Truly, it is a budget for the whole state.”
The fiscal year ended Tuesday. If legislators had not passed a budget, most state agencies would have shut down Wednesday and most state workers would have been furloughed.
|
