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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Gov. Mike Beebe is calling for $117 million in new
money for the state's Human Services Department to
pay for growth in Medicaid and wants $56 million in additional funding for
public schools for the coming year.
Finance officials on Tuesday detailed Beebe's proposed $4.7 billion budget
for the year that begins July 1. The governor's proposal
would increase the state's budget by $163 million from the current year.
Lawmakers convene for the fiscal session on Feb. 13.
Most of the Human Services increase will go toward the state's Medicaid
program. The $56 million boost for public schools stems
from a 2 percent increase that lawmakers had recommended to adequately fund
education. Beebe also proposed $2.1 million in increased funding for prisons
and $3.3 million for some higher education institutions.
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