Gov. Mitch Daniels has ordered his budget director to withhold nearly $27 million that Indiana schools had counted on this spring as part of his promise to balance the state budget.
The unprecedented move angered school leaders and fueled tensions with House Republicans, who believe the governor not only shortchanged schools but also overstepped his authority.
“Much like the tax increase plan, the governor states his preference,” said House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis. “That preference won’t be acted upon by the General Assembly until the budget is complete. This will be decided by the budget, and not the budget director.”
. . .
For schools, that means ending the state’s previous practice of covering a shortfall between what the school aid formula dictated and the lower amount state lawmakers set aside when they wrote the budget. Projections can be off because of enrollment growth, changes in property assessments, motor vehicle excise tax collections or other factors.
So, if I read the article right, the Governor’s office is withholding funds that the General Assembly had ordered to go to schools. The General Assembly can act to get those funds to the schools, but until it acts, the Governor’s action has an immediate impact on the schools.
Leave a Reply