FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR LONG
The Senate budget plan – an amendment to House Bill 1001 – controls state spending while boosting the funding for K-12 education, Medicaid, and child protection.
This is a very responsible budget. We are funding our obligations but holding the line on spending. The plan does not include any general tax increases, limits the growth of government, takes a big step toward eliminating the structural deficit and funds Medicaid at a responsible level.
In addition, the proposal rebuilds the state’s reserves and reduces accumulated payment delays to schools and local governments, all with an eye toward restoring the state’s financial viability.
The most pleasing aspect of the bill is that it actually increases total funding for K-12 education, continuing our commitment to Indiana’s schools. The General Assembly has increased education spending in past years, while other states were cutting their funding. In 2003, Indiana had the highest increase of K-12 funding in the country – during a national recession.
Indiana ranks 17th in the nation for per pupil spending and 16th in average teacher salaries. In the 2003 budget session, we provided a total formula dollar increase of 1.6 percent for 2004 and 1.7 percent for 2005. From 1993 to 2003, K-12 spending grew 69.3 percent. Compare that to a growth in K-12 enrollment of only 4.2 percent, and one can see that the state has made a significant commitment to its schools.
The budget will eliminate the $600 million unfunded liability in the 1996 Teacher’s Retirement Fund, directs all new teacher/administrator transfers to the old fund, and provides school corporations with an affordable contribution rate.
The budget plan also funds Governor Mitch Daniels’ vision for a restructured Indiana government, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Inspector General, Office of Technology, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Department of Agriculture and Department of Child Services. The bill allocates funds to hire a total of 400 child services caseworkers over the next two years.
This proposal is not likely to be the final version of the budget, as we have a few weeks remaining in this session, but it is a fair, reasonable and taxpayer-friendly plan.
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