The House Republican’s balanced state budget proposal maintains healthy reserves while funding substantive increases for education and school safety.
Representative Jack Jordan said in a news release on Friday, “This session, we supported a budget that adds $611 million in new K-12 funding over the next two years. We also included $30 million a year for Teacher Appreciation Grants to reward effective and highly effective educators on top of maintaining the $100 tax credit for teachers for classroom supplies. About 50 percent of Indiana’s $34.6 billion budget supports public education.”
The budget proposal also increases funding for the Secured School Safety Grant Program by $5 million a year for local schools to improve physical security and add student mental health resources. To date, more than $53 million in matching grants have been provided to Indiana school districts across the state to address potential safety threats.
Rep. Jordan said, “In addition to these key priorities, the proposal includes funding for local water infrastructure improvements, community corrections, public safety officers, and programs addressing infant mortality and helping young children with developmental delays and disabilities.”
After being approved by House members, House Bill 1001 can now be considered by the Senate. For more information, click here
