Senate Appropriations chair outlines $36.37 billion Senate budget, highlights corrections, education and health funding changes

Chairman Shawn Walker presented the Senate Appropriations Committee's proposed budget package, saying it would "lay out how the state will spend approximately $36.37 billion over the next 12 months." The overview, delivered at the committee meeting, described department-by-department adjustments and several policy-linked funding choices but did not represent a final legislative vote on the package.

Why it matters: the Senate's proposal directs operating money across education, corrections, health care and economic development and flags obligations from bills already passed. The plan changes funding levels in ways that would affect school programs, prison staffing and health-care reimbursements if adopted by the full General Assembly.

The chair framed the budget as cautious: after several years of double-digit revenue growth, he said state revenue increases are now modest and the Senate budget does not add more debt or attempt to replace expiring federal COVID-era funds such as ESSER and ARPA. He described the proposal as intermediate between the governor's and the House's plans in several areas.

Major allocations and program changes highlighted by Walker include:

- Corrections: The Senate plan provides roughly $170 million in additional base funding for the Department of Corrections to address staff retention, security (locks and gates) and contraband-prevention technology. Walker said the governor's proposal had been about $125 million and the House's about $250 million; the Senate…