Rep. Jason Petrie
Most area school systems stand to lose teachers and staff if cuts in Governor Matt Bevin’s proposed budget remain and local legislators aren’t making any promises that all of the funding can be restored.
School boards in Christian and Todd counties have already announced there will be staffing cuts with reduced funding. Senator Whitney Westerfield says he’s heard from people associated with those districts and with schools in Logan County.
He knows the cuts to transportation funding will have a significant impact on those school systems, but doesn’t know if there are funds available to avoid the cuts.
Representative Jason Petrie of Elkton believes there’s a desire to restore the transportation funding cut by the governor, but can’t say it will happen.
Westerfield says this budget process will be the toughest he will have dealt with during his time in the Senate.
Hear local lawmakers discuss this and many other issues on our weekly Legislative Update program Sunday morning at 9 on Lite Rock 98.7 and online at lite987whop.com.