In an effort to maintain fiscal responsibility during economic uncertainty, this week the General Assembly approved a state budget for the first part of the 2020-21 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2020. The plan provides certainty and stability for the next several months while the state awaits more information about how revenues have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. With tax collection dates changed to July and August, more time is needed to ensure we have the data necessary to make smart budgeting decisions for the remainder of the fiscal year. This five-month budget (House Bill 2387) allocates approximately $25.8 billion and includes no new or increased taxes.The governor signed the budget into law yesterday (5/29/20) afternoon. The budget is an interim spending plan that provides five months of funding for most state agencies and services but contains full-year funding for education. This includes level funding of the basic education funding (BEF) subsidy at $6.74 billion and the special education subsidy at $1.186 billion. The Ready to Learn Block Grant remains at $268 million, career and technical education at $99 million, and $5.5 million for career and technical education grants. Pupil transportation is being funded at $612 million under House Bill 2387, and while this may appear to be a reduction, a supplemental appropriation for the 2019-20 fiscal year brought the allocation in line with costs and now represents level funding.