House Speaker Sexton Says Next State Budget Will Increase By Two Percent

House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he anticipates a two percent increase in the state’s budget next fiscal year.

Sexton updated regional leaders about the latest legislative efforts at the UCHRA Board of Directors Annual Meeting Wednesday.

“The budget it is very good this year,” Sexton said. “The numbers are still up. You will still see very conservative budget estimates. I think we are going to see us grow by about two percent or so even though we think we will grow more. You just don’t know about the recession.”

Sexton said efforts to renew state shared sales tax will also be a topic when the General Assembly gathers next month. Sexton said he has been working with state Finance Commissioner Jim Bryson to share more state revenue locally.

“We’re taking a hard look at it,” Sexton said. “We were close last year. I thought we about had it to do something, but Nashville blew that up. We’re hopeful we can get back to it this year.”

The state’s budget last year did not include funding to restore the historic sharing of state sales tax income. Sexton said he would like to see reoccurring dollars phased in over time.

“Instead of you having to come back to us and always ask for additional money, I prefer to do it through the state shared sales tax or the single article to allow you all to have that reoccurring revenue,” Sexton said. “Not one time. you need money that you can depend on.”