Arkansas lawmakers are expected to finalize a $4.7 billion budget for the coming year as they try to wrap up the final week of the legislative session.
The Joint Budget Committee was scheduled on Monday to consider the budget proposal that was unveiled last week. The measure is nearly identical to the budget Gov. Mike Beebe proposed in January.
It calls for increases in funding for Medicaid and public schools and keeping most other agency spending flat. The proposal was introduced last week after Republicans who had been pushing for more spending cuts relented and allowed it to move forward.
If approved by the committee, the budget would head to the House and Senate for a vote on Thursday. Legislative leaders hope to end this year’s session on Friday.