Republican legislators are poised to direct only about two-thirds of the money that Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb sought toward tackling the state’s poor national rankings in areas such as obesity, smoking and life expectancy and improving local emergency services. Budget plans endorsed by House and Senate members would make up to $225 million available for counties taking the optional step of expanding public health programs over the next two years. That is a major boost from the current $7 million a year in state funding. But Holcomb requested more from the new state budget that will get final approval from legislators later this week.
