It’s not too early to start looking at the budget options for Delaware lawmakers.
And, in an expectation of more continue tough financial times ahead legislators have scheduled some early meetings on how to deal with increased costs and an expected drop in revenue.
The Wilmington News Journalreports that state revenues are projected to be $55 million short of what was allocated for the fiscal year of 2014 that ends in June of next year.
The First State expects increases in mandatory spending in the areas of education and health care.
The paper reports that raising $111 million would be required to cover 3 percent increase in state spending for such things as covering the growing costs of Medicaid and some classroom expenses.
The General Assembly’s budget-writing committee is expected to get together twice in the next few weeks.
Governor Jack Markell will wait until for the next revenue estimates in December before he begins to draw up his spending plan.
