Indiana Budget Doubts Loom Over Pre-K, School Funding

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana legislative leaders are advocating a go-slow approach to expanding the state-funded preschool program and warning there might be little money to boost school spending in the next state budget.

The pre-K program was launched in five of Indiana's 92 counties last year to widespread interest.

Top Republican legislators are in line with GOP Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb's support for a slow growth. His rival during the election, Democrat John Gregg, pushed for adding 20,000 4-year-olds in the first year of a statewide program.

State tax revenue growth is about $75 million below projections for the fiscal year that started July 1.

The GOP-dominated Legislature will be considering the preschool program expansion as part of the two-year budget that will be drawn up during the session, which starts Jan. 3.