Republican Statehouse leaders say they want to increase funding for Indiana's embattled child welfare agency and find a way to pay teachers more, but that money will be tight when they craft the state's next two-year budget.
Under an agreement with the state, FFA will receive $500,000 annually over the seven-year extension, which will help pay for convention-related expenses.
The proposed budget from the troubled Indiana Department of Child Services would include $965 million from the state’s general fund per year for the next two fiscal years.
Lawmakers have expressed support for increasing teacher pay in the next two-year budget, but the size of Jennifer McCormick’s request could be much more than what’s available.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced his decision Thursday afternoon after the Indiana Department of Transportation released a strategic plan for interstate tolling that was mandated by a transportation infrastructure funding law passed in 2017.
The statewide business group announced its lobbying agenda Monday—and it includes support for passing a hate-crimes bill and increasing the cigarette tax. Another priority involves the state’s superintendent of public instruction.
The amendment would prohibit the Indiana General Assembly from adopting a budget that spends more than the state earns in revenue.
The Indiana Institute for Working Families’ report also found that the average Indiana worker, who makes $35,422 annually in wages, makes nearly $2,100 less than the average Midwesterner.
The announcement follows a unanimous City-County Council vote to approve $14.5 million in emergency funding to address potholes.
House Speaker Brian Bosma said Thursday that the idea in House Bill 1002—part of a larger proposed retooling of the state's workforce development system—hasn't garnered enough support.
Pushing the discussion to next year is likely to frustrate advocates in the business community who believe lawmakers have toiled long enough on the workforce development system, making incremental changes year after year.
Holcomb on Wednesday announced he signed an order providing up to four weeks of paid leave for parents after the birth of a newborn or adoption. The policy was part of Holcomb’s 2018 agenda.
John Ketzenberger, a longtime local journalist who has been credited for stabilizing the institute’s finances, is mum so far on his plans after leaving the post.
The state of Indiana has been clamoring to collect sales tax from out-of-state retailers. The only problem is a U.S. Supreme Court decision that says it can’t.
Sen. Luke Kenley plans to retire later this year after serving since 1992 in the Indiana Senate and leading the budget-writing panel since 2009.
The president of the Noblesville Common Council is seeking the nod for Luke Kenley’s state senate seat from a Republican caucus. The businessman who lost to Kenley in 2016 is considering running as well.
Indiana hospitals are bracing for congressional action that could mean deep cuts in Medicaid, which funds the state’s popular health insurance program for low-income adults.
Although lawmakers OK’d less than half the $50 million annual pledge business leaders wanted for expanding state-funded preschool, they passed a major infrastructure bill that businesses favored.
Observers say the deal is unprecedented for a public research university and leaves unanswered questions about how others in the sector will respond.
The final version of the bill eschews a proposed $1 per pack cigarette tax increase. But it includes many of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s priorities.
