May 7, 2012
MID-TERM ADJUSTMENTS APPROVED BY HOUSE
Rep. Toni Walker, House Chair of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, led debate and House passage of the $20.5 billion fiscal year 2013 budget adjustment bill. The bill (HB 5557) keeps appropriations under the state’s constitutionally-mandated spending cap by approximately $86.4 million.
According to the state Comptroller, the budget for the current fiscal year is almost $200 million in deficit.
“A year ago, we dealt with a shortfall in excess of $3 billion – 15 percent of our total budget,” Rep. Walker said. “This year, we are looking at a shortfall that is about one percent of the state budget. I’d say that to come within one percent on a budget of this size and complexity is extraordinary work.”
One of the hallmarks of the fiscal year 2013 adjustments is a commitment to education.
“We know that students in schools with school-based health centers and family resource centers do better than students at schools without those resources. That is why we include funding for 22 school based health clinics and expansion of the number and capacity of family resource centers in underperforming schools,” Rep. Walker said.
In addition, the bill acknowledges the critical importance of early childhood education, by underwriting 1,000 school readiness slots for preschoolers and funds several initiatives to improve early reading success.
Despite cuts in many areas, funding for cities and towns has been saved. Other highlights of the legislation include: