STATEHOUSE – State Representative Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville) joined House Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) and other legislative leaders as they unveiled the House Republican Legislative Agenda for the 2015 session. This year, the biggest component of the agenda will be the biennial budget.
Rep. Mayfield serves on Ways and Means, the standing committee that drafts the budget and outlines how money will be allocated for the next two fiscal years. The committee also makes recommendations to the Indiana General Assembly on any legislation that could have a financial impact on Hoosiers.
“Serving on Ways and Means and being tasked with the challenge of drafting the two-year budget is a responsibility that I take very seriously,” said Rep. Mayfield. “The budget impacts everyone and takes nearly the entire legislative session to draft, review and pass. It is a privilege to be a part of that process and it allows me to make decisions that will benefit Hoosier families in my community and throughout the state, which is part of why I wanted to serve as a state lawmaker.”
This budget cycle will focus on remaining accountable to taxpayers through four specific priorities:
• Crafting a balanced budget with no tax increases;
• Continuing government reduction and efficiency;
• Investing in strategic priorities; and
• Maintaining healthy reserves and a stable surplus.
“While much still depends on the December revenue forecast, I am confident that education will continue to make up a substantial part of our budget,” said Rep. Mayfield. “In addition, we are going to make strategic investments in other areas that improve our state’s future, and I look forward to being a part of that.”
Formulating the state’s budget is a lengthy process. Prior to it coming before the Legislature, state agencies submit budget requests to the State Budget Agency who then formulate recommendations to be presented to the governor and later the General Assembly. Each biennium, over 50 percent of the state’s expenditures go towards K-12 and higher education.
To learn more about the budget process, please visit http://www.in.gov/sba/2372.htm.
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