In the new Senate operating budget proposal, NGFS+ maintenance level changes would increase spending by $203.6 million and net policy level changes would reduce spending by $26.3 million. Combined, spending would increase by $177.3 million over enacted 2015-17 appropriations.

The new proposal would increase NGFS+ spending by $143.7 million more than in the Senate-passed version. Some of the major spending differences between the two proposals are:

• The new proposal would reform rate setting for the Categorically Needy Blind Disabled and Community Options Program Entry System instead of moving it from managed care to fee-for-service (saving $12.8 million instead of $25.5 million).
• The new proposal would not save $43.6 million by using mental health Regional Support Network reserves.
• The new proposal would save $21.1 million NGFS+ in the Department of Natural Resources by using BSA funds for fire suppression rather than the general fund.
• There would be lower maintenance level savings (by $35.3 million) in the new proposal, largely due to assuming a smaller reduction to account for K-3 class size reduction utilization.
• In special appropriations, the new proposal would not merge the pension plans (increasing spending by $75.4 million).

The chart below compares the policy changes of the proposals. (For an overview of the proposal, see my earlier post.)