Lt. Governor David Dewhurst in regards to HB 1, the appropriations bill for 2012-2013, has echoed Gov. Rick Perry’s sentiments that the Rainy Day Fund (RDF) should be protected. But in order to balance the budget, including Article III – education, Dewhurst states it is essential to pass SB 1811, the large state fiscal matters bill, and a school finance bill.
It was already expected and added into the calculations in the balancing of the budget, that there would be an updated revenue estimate of about $700 million, said Dewhurst during a press conference this afternoon.
The Senate proposal puts more funding into Article III than the House version. Furthermore, according to Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, the Senate version of the budget bill puts $1.4 billion more into the Foundation School Program than the current level of funding.