INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Nearly 20-percent of the proposed increased state funding for Indiana’s schools would go toward expansions of the private school voucher and virtual school programs under a budget proposal from Republican lawmakers.
The plan prepared Thursday by House Republicans also includes a 50 cents-per-pack cigarette tax increase and would impose a new state tax on vaping liquids.
It would increase the base funding for K-12 schools by 1.25% during the first year and 2.5% in the second year of the budget that would start in July. But House Republicans would direct $66 million toward raising the family income eligibility for the private school voucher program and about $4 million to boosting per-student payments for those attending online-only charter schools.
