UPDATE: Braun outlines cost-cutting goals for state agencies, plans to up spending in key areas
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is scheduled to present his proposal to the State Budget Committee on Thursday afternoon.
State Budget
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Soaring Medicaid expenses foreshadow tough decisions but Braun says he won’t cut program access
Lawmakers are holding their collective breath in anticipation of Dec. 17 forecasts for tax receipts and Medicaid needs that will determine how they’ll proceed with writing the state’s next two-year budget and funding priorities like education.
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Indiana’s state budget director stepping down to become Carmel’s CFO
Zachary “Zac” Jackson, who has led the State Budget Agency as director for nearly five years, is leaving state government to become chief financial officer and controller for the city of Carmel, the Indiana governor’s office announced Monday.
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Indiana ends fiscal year with $2.9B in reserves
Consumer spending that boosted state revenues has cooled after two years of above-average financial performance, bringing the state’s reserves back within a typical range.
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School funding worries lead to late Indiana budget boost
Republican legislative leaders agreed Thursday to give about $300 million in additional funding toward Indiana schools in the new state budget.
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Articles
State leaders pressure IU to ensure Kinsey Institute’s compliance with 2023 funding ban
Republican state leaders, including Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, joined Purple for Parents of Indiana on Wednesday to call for continued scrutiny to ensure compliance with a 2023 state law barring state dollars from being used by the sex research organization.
Fiscal issues expected to dominate 2025 Indiana legislative session
Lawmakers will convene Wednesday to begin drafting the state’s next two-year budget, determining how to spend approximately $44 billion dollars to fund government services.
Indiana lawmakers seek road-funding changes, hope to avoid fiscal cliff
While education dominates half of Indiana’s budget and Medicaid costs worry lawmakers, a projected transportation infrastructure funding shortfall creeps closer.
A Medicaid study committee made no recommendations this year—despite a funding shortfall
A year the Holcomb administration revealed a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid program of nearly $1 billion, lawmakers will start working in January to piece together legislation that at least in part deals with the second-largest and fastest-growing item in the state budget.
Securing funds for venture capital a top priority for Indiana tech lobby
An expected tight budget cycle could limit how much lawmakers are willing to designate for existing technical investments—never mind additional requests.
Statehouse leaders plan to prioritize balanced budget over policy overhauls
During the Indiana Chamber Legislative Preview event, Statehouse leaders said the biggest issue on the table—and a major campaign talking point—is property taxes.
Deferred maintenance emerges as higher ed state budget priority
Indiana’s public universities are seeking millions of dollars for capital projects, but the state’s Commission for Higher Education wants lawmakers to concentrate funding in the next budget cycle on deferred-maintenance projects.
Indiana lawmakers get first glimpse at budget requests
Indiana’s State Budget Committee on Tuesday kicked off its first hearing for the upcoming 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. Lawmakers are set to file an initial vision for the $40 billion-plus biennial budget in January.
State lawmaker DeLaney calls on legislature to boost K-12 tuition spending in 2025
Democratic lawmaker Rep. Ed DeLaney of Indianapolis made public a new legislative analysis on Wednesday that showed the overall dollar amount spent on K-12 has grown each year, but its share of the state budget has dropped.
State divests from two investment funds over ESG, China connections
The Indiana Deferred Compensation Committee voted to eliminate public retirement assets from the funds as part of the state’s effort to divest from Chinese entities and funds prioritizing environmental, social and governance practices.
Indiana finishes fiscal year with $2.6B in reserves, plans Medicaid deficit fixes
Closing the fiscal year this week, Indiana budget leaders say the state government’s finances are in a healthy spot despite posting its lowest reserves since the pandemic, an issue exacerbated by a $1 billion Medicaid shortfall discovered last December.
State Budget Committee members say details about MLS investor group not necessary
State Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, and Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, likened the city’s expected request to those more regularly made to the budget committee by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., which is not required to disclose much, if any, information about its dealings.
Indiana teacher salaries on rise, but averages still fall short of governor’s goal
New data shows Indiana’s teacher pay is ticking up—but still trails averages in neighboring states—as the debate over Hoosier educator salaries continues.
Indiana underestimated Medicaid cost by nearly $1 billion, report says
The flawed forecast was based on data that did not reflect the latest needs of enrollees, state agencies said.
State revenue under projections for first time this fiscal year
The state budget plan predicted revenue of about $1.6 billion but collections were short $139 million: almost 9% below expectations, according to a monthly revenue report.
Income tax revenue replacement ‘remains to be seen,’ state budget director says
The comments from Indiana State Budget Director Zac Jackson came during a virtual panel discussion on the impacts an economic recession would have on state budgets.
Experts carefully optimistic about state’s fiscal footing as lawmakers look to cut taxes
The Interim State and Local Tax Review Task Force, which began meeting Wednesday, will examine Indiana’s corporate tax, individual income tax, property tax, sales tax, and others.
Indiana budget regulators requiring state agencies to hold back 2% ‘management reserve’
A memo issued by the State Budget Agency last week says that, despite “our strong financial position,” the state needs “to be mindful of unknown factors.”
Legislative session ends as chaotic, twelfth-hour push nets $312M increase for traditional K-12
Under pressure from local schools and fellow Republican lawmakers, GOP leaders opted to decrease the amount dedicated to paying down the unfunded liability in pre-1996 Teacher Retirement Fund and shift an additional $312 million to K-12 schools.