Davis gives update (01/20/2009)

The nation may be in the midst of a recession, but funding education will remain top priority, a state official said.

Indiana State Rep. Bill Davis presented a legislative update to members of the Portland City Council Monday night.

Davis said although some parts of the state's budget will be cut, funding for education would not.

"We're going to fully fund our education," he said. Some states had to cut education dollars this year, but Indiana won't, he said.

Preparations for the state's biennial budget are underway in the Indiana General Assembly. Beginning this year, the state will be the source of general funds for the state's school corporations.

Davis did not comment on the chances that spending for education would be increased in the upcoming state budget, which will be in effect from July 2009 to June 30, 2011.

Council member Kent McClung, who is a student teacher at Jay County High School, asked Davis if he expects the schools to receive timely payments.

Although some schools have received their funds late in the past, "We will not allow" that now, Davis said. "We have no intention of going there again."

He said the state hopes to give Hoosiers better access to education and create more scholarships.

Davis also spoke on how the recession and decisions made by state offices would affect the city's budget, after council president Bill Gibson asked him about it.

The state representative said last year's decision to cap property taxes won't impact the city's budget as severely as predicted. He said the original estimate was that the city would lose 1.5 to 2 percent of its budget. The current estimate is that the cap will only affect .30 percent of the budget, or about $20,000.

Also Monday, council members:

•Were invited by Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, to attend his State of the City speech on Jan. 27 at noon at Jay County Hospital.

•Learned that an item on the agenda would be moved to a future meeting.

Al Confer of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association was expected to attend the council meeting and request a street closure for this summer's Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show. He did not attend Monday night's meeting.[[In-content Ad]]