Senate Republicans unveiled our proposed state budget this week. I’m pleased to report our budget proposal is balanced and includes historic funding for K-12 education.
Our budget also delivers on our caucus agenda items of increasing salaries for Indiana State Police and paying down our long-term pension obligations.
Budget highlights include the following:
- $3.1 billion to the Pre-1996 Teachers’ Retirement Fund, which, when fully funded, will free up $2 billion in the state’s biennial budget
- $2.5 billion in new money for K-12 education, including $1.1 billion in new tuition support and eliminating textbook fees for all families
- $95 million to increase pay for State Police, conservation and excise officers
- $500 million to help local communities with capital projects
- $225 million to create an optional local public health grant that counties can use to improve public health services, and $35 million to expand the state’s mental health infrastructure and support
- $75 million to help local communities invest in housing development
To learn more about our budget proposal, click here.