Lawmakers Pass $19 Billion Budget with Raises After Facing Criticism Over Own Pay Hike
• Lawmakers approved $19 billion budget for 2025 after protest over 93% pay raise for themselves • Bill includes 5% raise for state workers, larger increases for public safety and lagging wages • Critics tried unsuccessfully to delay legislative pay raise another year • New plan drafted to cut income, sales and property taxes by $1.5 billion, but governor says it's too much • Disagreements over special education policies have stalled separate $6 billion K-12 spending bill