The Indiana Senate’s top budget writer, Sen. Ryan Mishler, has stated that the state cannot afford to expand universal school choice vouchers due to upcoming expenses. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the budget proposal, which includes reducing the upper limit for Child Care Development Fund vouchers and maintaining current eligibility caps for school choice vouchers. Mishler emphasized that an expansion would cost roughly $170 million, making it unfeasible to balance with a 2% increase in the school funding formula.
Ranking Democrat on the committee, Sen. David Niezgodski, supported the GOP spending plan due to fiscal constraints and the need to prioritize public schools. The budget proposal also includes measures such as requiring statewide elected officials to report out-of-state travel and funding for a jail management software system, beginning farmer tax credit, and clearing the state’s rape kit backlog.
The budget plan also fully funds Indiana’s Medicaid system but does not provide additional funding to reduce the Medicaid waitlist. Mishler highlighted the significant growth in the Medicaid budget over the past four years and emphasized the need to ensure those in need receive assistance.
The Senate plan maintains a $3 billion reserve each year to provide flexibility during tight financial times. The budget proposal will undergo further review in the full Senate and then return to the House for reconciliation between the two chambers’ versions.
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