Proposed budget adds $783 million in spending; $503 million intended for education

The Senate wrapped up its work on the 2022-23 State budget, adding a whopping $783 million in new spending, but the bulk of those changes are unlikely to make it to the final version.

The biggest change was an amendment from Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, and Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, to add $503 million to K-12 education, with half going to teacher salaries and the other half to pay down the debt to K-12 education, known as the budget stabilization factor.

During April 6 debate on House Bill 1329, which started the State budget at $36.4 billion, Kirkmeyer pointed out that Democrats i...