Arkansas Budget Bill Boosts Human Services, School Funding

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas' public schools, child welfare system and Medicaid program are set to receive funding increases while additional money is being tucked away for unexpected needs under a proposed $5.3 billion state budget unveiled Sunday. House and Senate leaders released the proposed Revenue Stabilization Act , the budget bill that's set for votes this week as lawmakers near the end of this year's session. The proposal, which prioritizes spending based on expected funding, closely mirrors the budget Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposed in March. "I think it's a good solid budget for us to be able to move forward on," House Speaker Jeremy Gillam said. "I think it continues a lot of worthwhile initiatives and I think it continues us on a solid path." The proposal calls for a $142.7 million spending increase for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with nearly $112 million of that going toward the Department of Human Services and $23.7 million going toward public schools. The DHS funding increase includes $88 million in additional funding for Medicaid and $20 million more for its division of child and family services. Gillam said he expected the House to vote on the budget bill Wednesday, with legislative leaders hoping to wrap up the session by week's end. The budget deal marks the end of a session that had been highlighted by a fight over the funding of the state's hybrid Medicaid expansion. The Senate last week rejected an attempt to override Hutchinson's&nbs...
Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care - Category: American Health Source Type: news