Legislative Finance Committee presents recommendations

The Legislative Finance Committee has present the budget recommendations for the 2014 Legislative Session. 

Spending calls for $6.15 billion from the general fund, which is $253.5 million more than is expected to be spent in the current fiscal year. 

Budget recommendations include:

Increase in funding for early childhood initiatives to $35 million. $50 million (1.5 percent increase) for cost of living for state, public education and higher education employees; $40 million to schools and state agencies to use for such things as pay adjustments or employee rewards. 

Medicaid and Medicaid-funded behavioral health care is recommended to receive $905 million.

Legislative Finance Committee presents recommendations