Keith Klein (Photo: Fox59)
Gov. Eric Holcomb has proposed a modest increase in school funding for the next two years and restoring cuts to state universities ordered when tax revenues plunged early in the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposal Gov. Holcomb presented to state legislators would increase K-12 school funding by 2% during the first year and 1% the second year of the new budget that would start in July.
That means about $377 million more for schools over those years, although the governor proposes spending even more to pay cash for new building projects and pay off state construction project loans early.
The Holcomb administration ordered a 7% reduction in state university funding and 15% spending cuts for state agencies as officials worried last spring about steep drops in tax revenue.
Holcomb’s top budget advisers said the proposal largely restores the state agency cuts and includes a 1% increase in university funding during each budget year.
Democratic legislators said they believed more money should be directed to boosting the state’s lagging teacher pay and assisting programs such as food banks and home health care services.
The Republican-dominated Legislature will debate the spending plan over the next several months.
The National Mall in Washington, DC will be closed during Inauguration Day.
The National Mall is normally packed with people during inaugural ceremonies. The area runs from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.
Officials have urged people to stay away from DC through Inauguration Day next Wednesday.
Gas Buddy shows prices have dropped slightly, statewide.
The lowest is $1.99 a gallon in Cicero.
In Bloomington, the range is $2.11 to $2.39 a gallon of regular.
