Senate set to debate budget

Senators at the statehouse are poised to debate a nearly five billion dollar plan for next year’s state budget. The bill is 215 pages long, and outlines the spending details for every state agency. Dozens of amendments will be offered to alter it — most from democrats and most will suggest spending increases. For example, democrats intend to call for spending the 52 million dollars in unexpected state tax revenue that’s been reported in the past two weeks. That money — if it does materialize by June 30th — will go into the state’s cash reserve. Republicans say they’re only willing to spend 160 million from the state’s cash reserve savings account and not a penny more. Democrats say republicans aren’t providing enough money for schools, and that means administrators will be forced to boost class sizes and make other budget cuts.