Can the state afford a 2.5 percent increase in school spending next year and 2.9 percent the year after that, or more than 5 percent over two years? When schools account for about half the state budget? I’m attempting to find out if this recommendation is based on economic indicators on state revenue.

That growth seems modest, but not after two straight years of declining state revenue and amid persistent news reports of gloomy economic indicators. It is true that Arkansas seems to be running modestly counter to national trends. But still.

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Governor’s office says: “We’ve still got a lot to look at with the budget, so can’t get into numbers at this point.”

I bet.

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