Senate subcommittee reviews CTE budget, flags capital shortfalls and possible transfer of farm management program

The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division on the floor reviewed the Department of Career and Technical Education budget, focusing on salary and insurance increases, grants and capital shortfalls and a bill (Senate Bill 2274) that would transfer the farm management program to the Department of Agriculture.

Budget staff member Alex, delivering the agency’s “purple sheet” summary for the department, said the Armstrong recommendation largely mirrors the governor’s with minor salary adjustments and three main highlights: salary and health insurance cost increases; restoration of a new-and-vacant FTE pool; and new grant and program funding. Alex identified specific additions: $2.5 million in federal funds for CTE grants; $4 million from the general fund to continue CTE reimbursement rates for schools and area career and technical centers; $3 million from the general fund for new and expanding secondary CTE programs; $500,000 added from the general fund for work-based learning coordinator grants, bringing that program to $2…