State Legislature Reaches Agreement On Upcoming Fiscal Year Budget

The state legislature has reached an agreement on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, filling the estimated $1.3 billion hole caused by COVID-19. 

House Speaker Charles McCall said they’ve been working remotely every day to put together this budget.

The proposed spending plan would cut 4 percent from most states agencies, while education would be cut by 2.5 percent.

They said it would be offset by other federal funds--meaning education would actually get an increase in funding. 

There’s some uncertainty as to how much money is really out there to spend.

Governor Stitt controls $800 million in federal aid, but some legislative leaders said he walked out on negotiations in March.

Stitt is not commenting on the budget but he says he never walked out on a budget meeting.