DFM administrator outlines governor’s ‘keeping promises’ executive budget, highlights education, roads, fire funding

Laurie Wolf, administrator of the Division of Financial Management, presented the governor’s executive budget to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 8, outlining priorities that include expanded education funding, transportation bond capacity, additional wildfire funding and a $100 million placeholder for tax relief.

Wolf said the budget is “structurally balanced,” uses conservative revenue estimates and preserves record reserves while recommending targeted enhancements that total about $151 million for fiscal 2026. She told the committee the governor’s priorities are education, workforce development, infrastructure and natural-resource stewardship.

The governor’s proposal would add about $150 million for public schools, including roughly $83 million targeted toward teacher pay and about $30 million to offset health insurance costs for teachers. Wolf said $50 million is set aside for rural school facilities, mental-health supports and literacy/accountability efforts. The budget also includes a $50 million revenue adjustment intended for education choice initiatives; Wolf said that funding would be available only in connection with a policy bill.

On transportation,…