I think this year we need to make sure that our budget reflects that,” Edwards said. “Every year we talk about how we wish we could give (teachers) more and that they deserve more, and they absolutely do. In the spending plan, nearly $52 million would be used to offset the expiring $200 million of federal pandemic relief funds used to provide early learning access. The governor’s proposed budget would send an additional $100 million to higher education initiative funds - including spending on various programs, such as nursing and cybersecurity, and nearly $9 million for K-12 school safety initiatives. In Edwards’ end-of-year speech in December, he stressed a focus on education in 2023.

We are making long-term investments in the state,” said Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, Edwards’ chief budget architect. “When you look at this budget, these are investments. Also on his proposal is $84 million for acquisitions and major repairs to state buildings - with a significant chunk for the state’s ailing prison system - $10 million for a new voting system to replace the current outdated one and $340 million for the state’s transportation department to match federal funding and infrastructure grants,

Among the additional costs, Edwards is looking to close disaster-related debt owed to the federal government by allocating $100 million in FEMA repayments for cost-share obligations from hurricane damage.

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