The Indiana General Assembly recently passed the new two-year budget, which continues the state's track record of fiscally conservative management of Indiana's resources.
This session, we bolstered veteran resources, including $2 million in new funding for veteran suicide prevention and $4 million for veteran career and relocation programs.
Helping the men and women who served in our military is one of my top priorities, and I was happy to support this increased funding.
At nearly half of the overall budget, K-12 funding received a historic $2.9 billion increase over the next two years while expanding school choice for families.
This added funding will eliminate textbook and other curricular fees beginning during the 2023-2024 school year and help pay down $700 million of the Pre-1996 Teachers' Retirement fund, which is currently the state's biggest unfunded pension obligation.
Paying off this $6 billion pension obligation will open $1 billion per year in the state budget and allow for more tax cuts for Hoosiers in the future.
The budget also included a $95 million increase for the salaries for Indiana's state troopers, which will help make their income more competitive with other police departments.
The General Assembly included historic funding to help improve health care in Indiana. This includes $225 million to fund an optional local public health grant created by Senate Enrolled Act 4 and $100 million for community mental health initiatives created by Senate Enrolled Act 1.
Senate Enrolled Act 1 will lay the groundwork to increase the number of certified community behavioral health clinics throughout the state – giving Hoosiers someone to contact, someone to respond and a safe place for help during a mental-health crisis.
Through Senate Enrolled Act 4, the state is hoping to boost Indiana's health outcomes by creating an optional grant program so county health departments can increase their services.
Passing a fiscally responsible balanced budget is important to keep taxes low and Indiana's economy strong. Senate Republicans have worked diligently to ensure our state operates within its means, and I believe the next two-year budget is a good example of that hard work.
As always, feel free to contact my office directly with your questions and concerns by email at Senator.Messmer@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48, which
includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
