Daniels: Schools likely will avoid more budget cuts

Gov. Mitch Daniels says he's hopeful that Indiana schools won't see deeper budget cuts in 2011.

Public schools statewide had a $300 million cut in 2010, and state officials had warned schools to budget cautiously in case
more cuts were needed in 2011.

But Daniels says the state's current assessment is that education will not have to be cut further.

Indiana is getting about $200 million for education from the newly passed federal stimulus bill. Daniels says Indiana should
be able to avoid more cuts to education with or without that new cash.

Democrats pounced on Daniels this week for criticizing the $26 billion federal stimulus package after he signed a letter
in February seeking more stimulus money for Medicaid.