Stinner Discusses Budget, ARPA Funding at Pre-Legislative Breakfast

Stinner Discusses Budget, ARPA Funding at Pre-Legislative Breakfast
Sen. John Stinner of Gering speaking at the 2021 Pre-Legislative Breakfast in Scottsbluff (KNEB/RRN)
November 23rd, 2021 | Scott Miller

The chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee is expecting several issues to have an impact during the coming session next year, mainly dealing with funding.

Sen. John Stinner of Gering says one of the bigger considerations is how to keep base salaries in areas such as health care and prisons competitive with other states, some steps of which have already been taken.

Stinner says that issue is just one indication that inflation will have an impact on adjustments to the biennial budget. “Yeah we’ve kind of walked through a two-percent environment. In fact, if you take a look at wages over a 60-, 70-, 80-year period of time, you’ll find out the average is about three (or) three-and-a-half. We’ve been running at about two since 2000 to 2020,” said Stinner. “So, inflation is there, it’s a real deal and might be a one-time adjustment. This looks like this adjustment is going to be in the $70 to 80 million category, (but) we’ll see how those numbers actually work.”

Stinner says the other issue that will take up a lot of debate is how to handle ARPA funds coming from the federal government.

While $260 million will be received while lawmakers are in session, Stinner says the other half will come after the legislature adjourns, meaning there will need to be some advance planning to make sure that money gets to where it can be spent by deadlines set by Congress.

He made the remarks during the Pre-Legislative Breakfast at the Scotts Bluff Country Club, sponsored by the Government Affairs Committee of the Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of Commerce.

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