STATEHOUSE UPDATE
Indiana lawmakers are caucusing right with less than five hours to go before the midnight adjournment deadline. The state budget is out. The $26 billion spending plan includes money for schools and full-day kindergarten. It also has more than $4 billion in property tax replacement credits. There are also some smaller items like a pre-kindergarten grant pilot program. Don’t ask me what that is.
As far as contentious issues go, to the best of my knowledge, there are enough votes in the Senate to pass, although some Conservatives may balk at the spending. On the House side, to the best of my knowledge, no Republican will vote for the budget if it does not include more property tax relief, which means Democrats will need all 51 votes, and it’s not clear of those are there yet.
There is some apparent movement on Indy Works. The current plan includes fire consolidation and a three-year free on township levys. The City-County Council could vote on consolidation as early as this year. The trustees and assessors would still remain in place. However, my gut instinct tells me that that there is more to here than meets the eye.
Stay tuned.
