Boy opposes state budget: ‘Irreparable damage’ to our education system

Today, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Pat Boy (D-Michigan City) voted against the budget due to its insufficient funding for K-12 education and higher education.

“I cannot fathom the irreparable damage this year’s budget will have on our education systems,” Boy said. “This budget not only doesn’t make up for the money our public schools are losing because of property tax cuts but also cuts the funding towards our public universities. Our universities attract thousands of bright students every year and teach them vital skills they can contribute to our state. Instead of fostering these educational environments to provide our young people with opportunities to prosper, the majority has decided to slash their funding. 

“The budget raises the tax on cigarette packs to $2.995 per-pack, which will generate $800 million over the next two years. Instead of ensuring that this funding goes towards making up for the cut funding in our education systems, much of this funding is going to a general fund with no guarantee on how it will be used.”

“The budget also suspends the growth of the private school voucher program for a year, to make up for part of the $2.4 billion budget deficit, but this suspension is temporary, while the cuts on our schools are not. I hope that in the future this legislature will reprioritize and fund the institutions essential to the welfare and prosperity of Hoosiers.”