Indiana State Budget Committee Approves Toll Road Rate Hikes and Child Care Funding Expansion
The Indiana State Budget Committee has approved a significant financial plan involving toll road rate hikes and an expansion of child care funding. The committee authorized the Indiana Toll Road's private operator to increase toll rates twice annually, which is expected to generate a $700 million windfall over the next two years. This decision allows the operator to raise rates by 1.5% or by the rate of inflation every December 31 and June 30. The funds will be directed to a transportation and infrastructure fund benefiting the seven counties through which the toll road runs. Additionally, the committee approved Governor Mike Braun's proposal to allocate $200 million from the state's General Fund to expand a low-income child care program. This funding aims to bring approximately 14,000 children off the waitlist for child care vouchers, although about 21,000 children will remain on the list. 
