By Drew Volturo,
Delaware State News
DOVER — Health, transportation and education dominated Gov. Ruth Ann Minner’s fiscal 2008 budget presentation Thursday.
Gov. Minner’s proposed $3.25 billion operating budget for fiscal 2008, an increase of 4.7 percent from the current fiscal year, was $313 million less than the total spending plan requests the Office of Management and Budget received during hearings last year.
“We are facing uncertain economic times, and for that reason, we are holding budget growth to under 5 percent,” Gov. Minner said.
The budget includes raising the state’s cigarette tax from 55 cents a pack to $1 a pack, generating $42 million for a healthy life fund.
The proposed capital budget, or bond bill, is $554.8 million, including $330.2 million for the Transportation Trust Fund.
The governor’s operating budget calls for $16.2 million to fund several recommendations from the state’s cancer advisory council.
Delaware’s program providing cancer treatment for the uninsured — the only such state-funded initiative in the country — would be expanded from one year to two.
“It’s the logical next step,” Secretary of Health and Social Services Vincent P. Meconi said.
“For many people, a year of treatment is all they need, but for others, that extra year will help immensely.”
Mr. Meconi also lauded the governor’s proposal to provide a vaccine for cervical cancer for uninsured girls from ages 9 to 17.
“As a father of daughters, that is an issue that is close to my heart,” he said.
The administration expects to increase Medicaid spending by $38 million and will spend an additional $40 million to meet federal accounting mandates for retiree health care benefits.
Gov. Minner still found $28 million to cover an average 2 percent pay raise for state employees.
“In recent years, we’ve been able to do much better,” she said.
“At this time, it’s not possible with the current economic forecast to do any more than that.”
Gov. Minner allotted $13.6 million toward full-day kindergarten — $6 million more than the current fiscal year — to implement the effort in 11 school districts and eight charter schools.
With more than 800 students going to college free this year under the governor’s new Student Excellence Equals Degree program, she proposed adding $1 million to last year’s $1.4 million total to fund more students in the coming year.
The budget also includes $10 million to operate the state’s new veterans home and $12.7 million in a penultimate round of spending to update Delaware’s statewide emergency radio system.
Land preservation received some attention in Gov. Minner’s budget, with $20 million being split among farmland and open space preservation and $1 million for forestland preservation.
The spending plan also designates $5 million for federal matching funds for beach preservation at Bethany Beach and South Bethany.
On the capital side, Gov. Minner proposed an additional $98 million for school construction and renovation, and $23 million for economic development initiatives.
Funding the Transportation Trust Fund has been an area of concern for legislators in recent years, with the state facing a $1.5 billion shortfall to complete approved projects over the next six years.
Gov. Minner unveiled a plan Thursday to increase Del. 1 tolls, motor fuel tax, documentation fees, vehicle registrations and eliminate E-ZPass discounts.
Staff writer Drew Volturo can be reached at 741-8296 or dvolturo@newszap.com
