Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders presented her balanced budget plan to legislators, focusing on key areas such as education, maternal health, public safety, and government efficiency. The proposal includes a 3% increase in the state’s budget, with an additional $182.5 million allocated for the next fiscal year. This plan aims to address priorities that have been identified by lawmakers.
One of the highlights of Governor Sanders’ proposal is the increase in funding for the Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) program, which would provide $90 million in additional funding to expand access to the program for more Arkansans. The plan also includes $13 million for Medicaid to support maternal health programs and $100 million in set-aside funding for Medicaid sustainability.
While presenting the plan to legislators, Governor Sanders faced concerns from some lawmakers, particularly regarding the impact on public schools. However, Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson defended the governor’s plan, stating that vouchers and public schools are funded from different sources.
Additionally, the budget proposal includes $3 million for a new employee pay plan, focusing on key positions such as nurses, state troopers, social workers, and correction officers. The forecast for the coming fiscal year predicts a surplus of nearly $300 million, following an expected surplus of about $280 million for the current fiscal year.
Governor Sanders emphasized the importance of finding real solutions that benefit the people and ensure the state’s financial stability in the coming year. The budget plan will now be reviewed by the legislature ahead of the next session starting in January.
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