The state department of mental health is looking for a $58 million funding boost, according to the newspaper. The Medicaid department is seeking an additional $107 million as medical expenses are expected to grow and more people qualify for the program.
The state's current budget is about $5.5 billion, according to the Ledger. No formal estimate has been made for next year's budget picture. But Darin Webb, the state's economist, told the legislature that they shouldn't expect significant growth in the next year.
By the end of legislative hearings on Wednesday, every state agency except for the Department of Corrections is expected to make a request for increased funding, the Ledger reports. Whether those requests will or can be granted, though, remains to be seen.
