Budget proposal to push school funding past Pence’s pitch

The leader of the Indiana House says a state budget proposal set for release Monday will include a larger funding increase for public schools than Gov. Mike Pence sought in his spending plan.

House Speaker Brian Bosma says details on the two-year state budget from majority Republicans were to be announced Monday.

A top budget priority for Republicans is to direct more money toward fast-growing suburban school districts. Bosma hasn't given specifics, but the House plan would top Pence's proposal last month to increase total school spending by 2 percent in the budget's first year and 1 percent in the second year.

Bosma says the plan will include more construction projects than Pence sought in order to take advantage of current low interest rates for borrowing money.