Next month, Arkansas legislators will meet to pass a state budget. Lawmakers meet every two years to pass a state budget. In an interview with KARK Channel 4’s Capitol View, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy and chairman of the Joint Budget Committee, said that the budget this year is expected to grow from last year’s budget.
Dismang said part of the reason for this growth in the budget is the $90 million requested to expand the school vouchers under the LEARNS Act. When asked whether LEARNS spending could continue to increase, Dismang said he does not see that being an issue in the future.
“I think when you look at private schools that is pretty much a known factor. There’s only so much space that’ll be available for new students to enter in the private school setting,” he said.
On the issue of education, lawmakers will also look into adjusting the funding for higher education. Dismang said making changes to the funding for higher education can be a challenge.
“Before we do any increase in funding, I’d like to have a better understanding of what we want for a long term formula,” Dismang said. “In the past that formula has only been set by higher education institutions and they generally regret how that’s been set pretty quickly.”
One of the other issues for higher education, in the state, has been funding for residency spots at medical colleges. When asked about increasing funding for those spots, Dismang said the state has increased funding for those slots with taxes on medical marijuana in past legislative sessions. U.S Sen. John Boozman has tried to find ways to increase funding through Congress but the Senate has not taken up the issue.
