A state budget is more than a spending plan; it’s a statement of a government’s priorities, values and hopes for its residents. Sometimes the pledges don’t match the priorities set; sometimes they demonstrate a commitment to change.
Gov. Mike Pence’s budget proposal is decidedly lean, with a 1.4 percent spending increase that falls a full percentage point below inflation. Between now and April, those whose work is shaped by state spending decisions must make the case that the budget cuts that helped create Indiana’s surplus have their own costs. Investing more dollars in children, older Hoosiers, the state’s infrastructure and other areas could save the state in the long run.
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