Note to the press: Please include the following statement from Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) in your coverage of the newly released two-year state budget plan, which includes historic increases to K-12 public education. In 2023, Huston said the new budget will provide $600 million in additional funding to public schools annually – fulfilling and exceeding the Next Level Teacher Pay Commission's recommendations for increasing teacher salaries. Huston said the budget also recommends schools set starting teacher salaries at $40,000 and requires schools to dedicate at least 45% of tuition support dollars to teacher pay. In total, the budget increases K-12 spending by $1.9 billion over the biennium. The plan includes substantial investments in expanding school choice and mental health services, and boosting Indiana's critical infrastructure. The updated spending plan reflects the April fiscal forecast that increases Indiana's revenue projections by $2.4 billion over the next 3 years.
STATEHOUSE (April 20, 2021) – "Our budget holds strong to our conservative principles of limited government while making strategic investments to provide opportunities for future tax cuts and reforms. To keep our commitment to fiscal integrity, we will pay down over $1 billion in taxpayer funded debt, including about $600 million toward pre-1996 teacher pensions. We're restoring mental health funding and appropriating an additional $100 million for mental health grants. This budget also directs federal stimulus toward Indiana's critical infrastructure, including $250 million for broadband expansion and $160 million for water infrastructure grants.
"Our state budget is a historic win for Hoosier students, teachers and families. Spending on Indiana's K-12 schools already represents half of the state's biennial state budget, and we'll send an additional $600 million annually to schools to increase teacher pay. We're also making significant investments to expand school choice to give more Hoosier parents the power to choose what education best meets their child's needs."
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House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents House District 37, which includes portions of Hamilton County and Fishers.
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Click here for a link to a summary of the Conference Committee Report on House Bill 1001, the state's two-year budget plan.
